Sports: BCCI sets sights to resume training of Indian Cricketers in an "isolation" camp.
After over a gap of two months, The Board of Control for Cricket in India has set sight to resume training of Indian cricketers in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. BCCI is searching in cities which are declared as "green zone" or to a place which is outside the containment zones, so as to resume the training activity of senior team players, coaches and staff.
The Indian cricket board has scouted The National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru as a potential place of starting the training. The elaborated plan includes quarantining and isolating the players, coaches and staff and to provide them with a sanitized environment. BCCI has planned to set up an 'isolation camp' for safely training its staff and players.
The fully-equipped NCA is more than ready to host the camp, but Bengaluru is not COVID-19 virus free and this raises concern. Meanwhile, other venues are being searched which fall under "green zones" as classified by the government.
A BCCI official said in a report in TOI, "The safety of the players is the board's priority. We will have to work on the logistics and see if Bengaluru is safe enough. If things don't look absolutely fine, then we will look for areas in the country which fall outside the containment zones. The camp will be sanitized and there is also an option of opening up local stadiums to senior players."
The official further added, "The players, team management and the cricket operations team are constantly in touch to deal with every issue." It is also reported that no players, management staff will be permitted to go outside of the isolation camp. Those involved will have to go through a thorough medical checkup. The official also said, "There are a lot of logistical issues. BCCI needs the government directions and will adhere to it. The schedule of flights and freedom of movement will have to be taken into account. The medical team is also in the loop."
The COVID-19 has forced BCCI to postpone IPL season 13 and cancelled the ODI series against South Africa in March.