Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque supported the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the interim changes to its playing regulations during the period of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide, stating that everyone will be safe despite
having difficulties for the bowlers, report agencies.
The world cricket apex body on Tuesday approved a string of interim changes to its playing regulations, which mainly include the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball and allowing home umpires in international series coupled with players’ replacement on the aspect of displaying symptoms of coronavirus in Test.
The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) ratified recommendations from the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee, aimed at mitigating the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus and protecting the safety of players and match officials when cricket will resume.
Even though it’s temporary disadvantage for the bowlers, Mominul said urging all they should maintain it for the betterment of cricket, which is needed to return to the field after a lengthy break.
“We have to adapt with the new changes because if we don’t, the risk of infection will then be higher and that will slim the chance of playing cricket,” Mominul Haque said.
“Though the bowlers will suffer initially, it’s a matter of life and death. So we have to remain cautious,” Haque told an English daily.
Mominul said that he felt these new rules will help cricket bring back to its competitive mood what is
much-needed for the time being. And so, he urged everyone to adopt the changes for the sake of the resumption of cricket.
“Who knew that this virus would turn our reality upside down? I think we have to welcome the changes, we have to stay alert and maintain the safety standards because we don’t know for how long we will remain in such a situation,” the skipper said.
Mominul appreciated the new substitution rule given by the ICC in Tests and thinks that it might be included if any player feels concussion during the innings.
Due to the travel restriction and safety reason ICC has also allowed local, non-neutral umpires to conduct matches.
Mominul feels that the umpiring quality might drop because of the new rule but players have to accept and have to move on.
“COVID substitution will be like concussion-sub I think. But sometimes, it takes three days before the symptoms start to show and often a Test match ends in three days,” the Test skipper said.
“But I think if a player is found infected while playing a Test match, both the teams and officials will be sent to quarantine. So the players’ check-up before the match is very important,” he added.
“As you see, everything is interlinked. Before the invention of an effective vaccine, we have to abide by the rules to avoid infection,” he signed off.
