Dubai:The ICC will not place teams in bio-bubbles for the month-long women’s World Cup, which begins in New Zealand on March 4. CEO Geoff Allardice stated Monday that players should be able to adapt to the “managed environment” and ensure the tournament goes on without a COVID outbreak.
Allardice also clarified that RTPCR tests will not be as frequent as earlier times because they expect players stay clear of potential transmission zones.
The strict nature of bio-bubbles, hard quarantine, and bio-bubbles has already been causing mental problems across sports. The ICC is well aware.
Allardice stated that the approach was to create a controlled environment around the tournament during a media interaction.
“Testing will not be frequent; it won’t be daily testing. It’s about players accepting responsibility for being in the country for a month, and living in a place where they are not restricted.
Allardice made his point, as it should.
He wants players to take responsibility for cases, but the U-19 World Cup has demonstrated that symptoms are not severe.
“There are some general guidelines, but we’re asking players to be sensible and stay clear of areas that might cause transmission.
“The other thing we discovered is that, despite having positive tests for a number of symptoms, the actual number of people who were displaying them was very low. We want to keep people safe and healthy. It’s a big change from six months back.
Even in the case of an outbreak, matches will go ahead with nine players each, but Allardice hoped that it wouldn’t become so dire.
“It was something we had to do in the last few months after the Omicron epidemic. Allardice stated that nearly all of our tournaments have been affected by players who are unable to play due to positive COVID tests.
The ICC guidelines for playing conditions already include a nine-player-aside game. It has been in force since the U-19 World Cup in West Indies, where India won its fifth title.
COVID outbreaks were reported at that event with India. At one point, half a dozen infected participants were left.
“I think one shift is that we had quite a close contest in the West Indies with men’s Under-19 World Cup a month ago, where there were many teams that had breaks.
“And I believe we needed to have some contingency planning. We want eleven against eleven. The ICC CEO stated that we have squads of 15 players. However, all teams are traveling with some extra reserve players to cover contingencies.
“…the uncertainty surrounding the events meant that the announcement or introduction of these protocols was very important. It is a contingency. Allardice said that she hoped that every match would go as planned with no interruptions.
It was difficult
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Allardice admitted that it has been difficult for the cricket body in hosting events.
“…at this time, the COVID Situation is unfolding so so, so it’s been challenging,” Allardice stated when specifically asked about the difficulties involved in planning the event in New Zealand where COVID restrictions are among the strictest in the world.
“The issue of isolation and quarantine during the lead up to a tournament was something we had to deal with in different ways over the last 18 months, both for international cricket and our events, over the past nine months.
“It is a challenge for us because we deal in different governments from country to country, and they all have a unique approach to COVID,” he said.
