ICC mulls COVID-19 substitutes for Tests

Having introduced the like for like concussion substitute in cricket from last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) now is discussing the possibility of COVID-19 substitute in cricket.

England and Wales Cricket Board director of special projects Steve Elworthy said, “COVID replacements are certainly something that the ICC are discussing. I’ve seen communication about that and it’s certainly something we hope would be allowed — specifically for Test matches, not necessarily ODIs (one-day internationals) or T20s (Twenty20).

“That replacement would have to be a ‘like for like’ player... Our on-site COVID medical practitioner and Public Health England would be informed immediately and that player would then be put into isolation for a period of time,” Elworthy said further.

England are hosting West Indies for a three-Test match series next month. West Indies are sending a 14-man squad along with 11 reserves who will train and quarantine together ahead of the first Test in Southampton that starts from July 8. The ECB has planned to host the series in a bio-secure environment and is hopeful that such a scenario will not surface.

“With the testing protocols of getting those players into that (bio-secure) bubble first, you would hope that wouldn’t be a scenario we’d have to deal with. But clearly it’s something we are planning for, said Elworthy.

It is noteworthy that three West Indies players - Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, and Keemo Paul – have declined to go on the tour.

 

[With Hindustan Times input]