Former India skipper Rahul Dravid reckons that cricket cannot resume in the country under current circumstances.
In view of the COVID-19 crisis, Dravid also suggested that the Indian domestic season could be shortened if it doesn't start on time.
"I don't think we are in a position to resume…. It is better to be patient and wait," Dravid told The Week. "We have to take it month by month. One has to look at all options. If the domestic season, which usually starts by August-September, starts in October… one has to see whether the season should be shortened.
"Everything is uncertain right now. How much cricket will be played and what it will take to be able to play depends on the guidelines from the government and medical experts. For us at NCA, the busiest time is from April to June. We normally have our zonal, U-16, U-19, U-23 camps happening at this time. [But] we had to keep redrawing plans. I just hope we don't lose a lot of our cricket season, and that we can get some cricket this year."
As of June 20, India has recorded more than 3,95,000 Coronavirus cases with over 12900 fatalities.
Even though the central government and sports ministry have given a go-ahead signal for sportspersons to resume training at empty stadiums, the Indian cricket team is yet to hit the ground running with a proper national camp because of some of the travelling restrictions that are still in place.
Looking ahead to a possible resumption, Dravid, the NCA chief, said that the academy will be aiming at training local cricketers initially.
"The NCA will possibly open initially for some local cricketers," he said. "Those arriving from other places will have to first quarantine themselves for 14 days. Whether that is possible, we have to see.
"For domestic cricket, fortunately, we were able to complete most of our competitions before the lockdown. We have to see whether players are comfortable with inter-state travel. Our training programmes will depend on which domestic tournament will be played first. If it is T20, then we will start the programme accordingly."
International cricket is set to return with the England-West Indies Test series on July 8. The three-Test series will be played in a bio-secure bubble.
However, Dravid felt playing in a bio-secure environment will not always be a viable solution in the COVID-19 era.
"In international cricket, it is possible," he had said on a webinar organised by YUVA last month. "I believe the England-West Indies series will be a lesson for all. It has its own challenges. It is not as easy at the domestic level."
"The best-case scenario is that we will be able to hold some camps once cricket activity is allowed. The worst-case scenario is the season is totally washed out [for age-group cricket]. Missing a few months of cricket is nothing compared with ensuring we are safe."
