THE PROBLEM WITH A CORONAVIRUS SUBSTITUTE

Merely substituting the player might not be the solution even if the precautionary measure is taken to test the player and eventually find a replacement from within the ranks so that the game might not be affected. But if indeed the player is coronavirus positive, then it becomes a matter of the question...

- SREELATA S. YELLAMRAZU

The International Cricket Council (ICC) ratified the proposal as suggested by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about having a coronavirus substitute following in the footsteps of the concussion substitute introduced last year. However, while the logic is understandable in wanting to keep the game moving forward, the grim reality has a different say.

For starters, with players in a fourteen-day quarantine, it should become a situation where the environment is relatively one of a bubble wherein the players, once confirmed negative for the virus that has caused a global pandemic, should remain in a healthy state provided the people they are interacting within the biosecure environment have no contact with the outside world as it were.

One would think these measures were foolproof enough under the circumstances if playing the game is inevitable.