The International Cricket Council’s Cricket Committee came up with a number of changes to the game as preventive measures to make the game coronavirus free whenever it resumes. The Anil Kumble led committee wants to protect everyone involved in the game while preserving the essence of the game as well.
Kumble explains the situation
To contain the spread of the coronavirus whenever the sport resumes, former Indian captain Anil Kumble led Cricket Committee made a set of recommendations. One of them is banning the players from using their saliva on the cricket ball to shine it. The members are although okay with the use of sweat as it does not transmit the virus. The committee also recommended the use of local umpires and match referees for international games as the Decision Review System ensures more accurate decision making and the travel time gets reduced as well.
In an official statement, Anil Kumble explained, “We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the Committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved.”
The recommended measures
The official statement further read, “… (It) saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball while recommending that enhanced hygiene measures are implemented on and around the playing field.”
Regarding the re-introduction of two non-neutral umpires in bilateral series was also explained in the statement. The concept of having two neutral umpires umpiring in matches was first introduced in 2002. From 1994 to 2001, it involved one local and one neutral umpire. The statement said that to overcome the travelling challenges due to the pandemic it would be best to appoint local match officials in that short-term. “Given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods, the Committee recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short-term.”
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