Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (August 2) released the 100-page Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for a safe resumption of the domestic cricket across the country in the wake of the ongoing global health crisis.
According to the 100-page guideline prepared by the BCCI for the state associations, the latest SOP bars 60-plus individuals from taking part in any cricketing activity on the field for now – which will be probably affecting Arun Lal and Dav Whatmore, who are coaches of Bengal and Baroda respectively.
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The 66-year-old Whatmore was appointed Baroda coach in April while the 65-year-old Lal, who has recently won the race for life against dreaded cancer, guided Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final this March after 13 years has been a crucial part of the stateside since playing days in the 1990s.
Well, the BCCI’s latest SOPs for the domestic cricket would not allow professional individuals aged 60-plus, including support staff, umpires, ground staff to attend the training camps till further government directive, which means both Whatmore and Lal won’t able to coach their domestic teams.
Reacting to the same, Lal has categorically denied the BCCI's latest SOPs while citing the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he will not remain confined in his room, as he is hoping to continue to coach the Bengal side despite the latest changes and COVID-19 risk.
The Bengal coach told PTI: “The Prime Minister is 69 and he's running the country in these times. Are they telling him to step down? Me as a person, whether I coach Bengal or not is immaterial but I will live my life. Don't expect me that I'm 65 years old, so I will lock myself in a room for the next 30 years. This does not happen like this.”
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However, the Bengal legend made it clear that he would maintain all social distancing norms, but he isn't going to quarantine himself just because of the SOP.
He added, “I will take precautions like everybody else - social distancing, hand washing, sanitizing, mask-wearing all that I will do. Unnecessarily there will be no foolhardiness. But I will not quarantine myself just because I'm 60-plus. The virus does not know the difference between 59 and 60.”
Meanwhile, the former cricket has also insisted that he has never been “this fitter” in his life after defeating the adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare type of salivary gland cancer four years back.
He further noted, “I'm very fit and strong. In fact, I've never been this fitter in my life. I'm not at all worried. I know the whole concern is about people above-60. I understand that. But I think things will work out. A couple of months down the line, the virus will start subsiding. Much before any vaccine or anything. Certainly, I'm continuing. I've got no news from any quarters that you know I'm not continuing.”
On the advisory, Lal said: “An advisory can change, in fact, it itself says it can change and it's temporary. The situation is so fluid and uncertain; nobody knows about tomorrow. We will wait and see how it pans out. It also discourages and there's no binding on it.”
However, he understands that restriction but said it wouldn’t be a reflection of his work, adding: “They are trying to look after me only. It's not any reflection on my abilities. We will see how it goes.”
Lal concluded, “The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) will have to decide to take into all the consideration with State and Union government. They are working very hard and are really pumped up. My job to keep them motivated and wait for their time.”
On the other hand, the CAB president Avishek Dalmiya also reacted on the BCCI's SOP, saying: “It is presumed that the restrictions for individuals above a certain age or with underlying medical conditions mentioned in the advisory are of a temporary nature considering the current situation and taken in the interest of persons beyond a certain age for their safety.”
Dalmiya signed off by saying, “This is because the document clearly states that all such individuals should be discouraged from participating in the camp activities until suitable guidelines are issued by the Government."
"However, this may change in due course of time since, in the SOP itself, it is mentioned that the guidelines may be amended from time to time as may be required depending on the existing COVID-19 situation in the country and the guidelines issued by the Government at appropriate times.”
(With PTI Inputs)
