Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveils plan for the resumption ofcricket activities across the country.PCB on Tuesday announced gradual,careful and phase wise resumption of cricket activities across the country.
With players’ health and safety at the heart, the board has announced thesoft reopening of the National High Performance Centre by allowing only thecurrent Pakistan cricketers to have the first use of the facilities andalso gave a go-ahead to recommencement of recreational cricket with strictadherence to government-issued protocols.
The procedures for the use of the NHPC facilities have been preparedfollowing careful deliberations with the PCB’s Medical and Sports Sciencesdepartment to provide safe and secure environment to elite players to helpthem prepare for the upcoming cricket season, which begins on 30 September.
In the next phase, the PCB will announce protocols under which the domesticcricket competitions will be held. As Covid-19 is an evolving situation,the PCB will continue to monitor the situation and make amendments in theprotocols as necessary.
Age-group, women and men cricketers, who have represented Pakistan in thepast 12 months, as well as former cricketers who are involved in day-to-dayPCB operations and players undergoing rehabilitation programmes, will beallowed to use select facilities during the day while observing strictStandard Operating Procedures (attached).
Players who are eligible under the first phase of the NHPC reopening willhave to book the time and facilities in advance through e-mails atnhpcbookings@pcb.com.pk. This is to ensure the appropriate standard socialdistancing protocols are observed, while also avoiding multiple use of theequipment until these are sterilised and ready for reuse.
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Players are prohibited from bringing their helpers or assistants, while theuse of net bowlers will have to be nominated and approved by theappropriate NHPC authority.
As part of international cricket playing conditions, players will not beallowed to use saliva during net practice.
The players will have to wear masks while arriving at the NHPC and undergomandatory temperature checks at the entrance. The players will be requiredto walk through disinfection gates and train at their designated areas only.
PCB Director – High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “It was important that weproduced these protocols so that our elite players can prepare for theupcoming season in the best possible and safest environment. I want tothank our medical team for preparing comprehensive protocols, which, we areconfident, will ensure safety and security for the players.
