The Board of Control for Cricket in India is optimistic and ambitious about resuming the training for the contracted players by the end of June.
The Government of India had already permitted to open the sports facilities, sans spectators, in non-containment zones.
Despite a sudden surge in COVID-19 virus spread and number of reported cases about to breach the two lakh mark, the Indian cricket board is reportedly aiming to “pull something off” for resuming training by the end of the month, news agency ANI has quoted a board source as saying.
“We will shift players to one place when 100 percent confident. For training, NCA has been discussed. We may look for other options as well, we need to keep in mind the state restrictions on travel and monsoon before taking a decision,” the source has reportedly said.
“We should be able to pull something off towards the end of June. Cricketers are waiting to get back on the field. It has been a really long time since sports stopped but as of now we are figuring out a concrete plan to resume.”
All sports activities in the country have been suspended since the nationwide lockdown was imposed in the last week of March to check the spread of novel coronavirus.
As the world is trying to get the life back on wheels amidst presence of the deadly virus, which is going to stay and impact lives till the time an effective vaccine in developed. Sports activities worldwide are being resumed and national cricket boards are working on resumption of training for their international players.
German top division football league Bundesliga has resumed action. Two other major European Leagues – Premier League and Serie A – have announced their resumption plans and schedules.
The BCCI, most powerful and richest cricket body in the world, is also eyeing to get back to the business. The COVID-19 pandemic has already inflicted severe monetary damages to the sports bodies.
The Indian cricket board has also been compelled to postpone the high-profile Indian Premier League, which now might be staged in October-November this year as the T20 World Cup in Australia is expected to be deferred.
For getting the international cricketer to India and ensuring the right road of resumption for the top Indian cricketers, getting the top players back to the field will be among the BCCI’s top priorities.