The Board of Control for Cricket in India has recently sent a 100-page guidelines document to all the state associations, and it has formed a COVID-19 task force to look over the resumption of cricket. Rahul Dravid, the head of the National Cricket Academy, has a significant role to play in the committee.
The players and the support staff would be signing a consent form before beginning their practice at the respective alloted centers. According to the guidelines, coaches and staffs who are above 60 and have a list of physical ailments are barred from participating in the camp. At the NCA, Dravid, a hygiene officer, a medical officer, and BCCI AGM of cricket operations would be overseeing the process.
According to the document, they would have to communicate clearly and regularly with the players, and explain the measures that are being taken to manage risk, and the advice that is being given to individuals to follow the same and also to update of COVID19 cases to relevant higher management.
“All the Players and staff including administrative staff of NCA shall be tested for COVID-19 (RT-PCR test) to detect the possibility of COVID 19 infection before the resumption of training,” the SOP read.
“Prior to the commencement of National Cricket Academy, the players shall submit a written undertaking to abide by all the protocols prescribed in this SOP and various Government orders issued from time to time in the context of COVID19 prevention.”
Prior to the commencement of the camp, all players and staff should submit their travel history during the lockdown to the medical team through an online questionnaire. Players and staffs who are suspected to have COVID-19-like symptoms should undergo PCR tests.
“Two tests one day apart (Day 1 & Day 3) should be done to account for false negatives. If both the test results are negative, only then they should be included in the camp,” it read.
“A webinar before commencement and in-person education workshop on Day 1 of the camp must be conducted by the CMO (Chief Medical Officer, to be appointed by all state units) for all players & staff…”
Other protocols regarding transportation, usage of Saliva, checking temperature on every day will also be put in place as per the SOP.
“Spectators, players’ parents and other visitors should not be allowed entry into the stadium at any time of the day. Only players, support staff and other accredited ground, catering and security staff should be permitted. Those who show symptoms would be subjected to self quarantine and will be tested before joining the camp again.
“Resumption of training will happen in a phased manner with progression from outdoor training activities to indoor training over the next few weeks as permitted by local health authorities,” the SOP added.
