CAB proposes eye tests for its players on resumption of cricket post COVID-19

International cricket has come to a standstill since March due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, England, Australia and West Indies cricketers have returned to training adhering to the guidelines. But there is not much idea about the Indian players resuming their on-field activities. Even as the BCCI is planning to organise a camp for its top players, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has come up with a proposal.

CAB has cleared that its players will have to undergo eye tests once cricket resumes in the post-Coronavirus era. A BCCI official has praised the association’s move citing the importance of the eye-sight for the cricketers. The official, at the same time, has also revealed the BCCI’s contracted players have been undergoing eye tests every three months for the last three years.

“I think it is a brilliant move on their part because cricket is, after all, a game of reflexes and hand-eye coordination. In fact, Virat and boys have been undergoing eye tests quarterly for the last three years. It is a part of the drill for contracted players,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Eye-sight is the strength of players, says BCCI official

The BCCI official also felt that the players will have to keep their eye-sight strong as they have to face the fast bowlers in the middle and even the slightest of mistakes could cause them trouble. “You need to ensure that the eye-sight is your strength in this game and if anyone has a problem, you can always get lenses or glasses to sort it out.

“At the end of the day you are facing bowlers at 140kph and above and even if you miss sight for a fraction of a second, it can cost you,” he further said. As far as the resumption of cricket in India is concerned, it looks far fetched as of now with the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri recently stating they are targeting the post-monsoon period even for the IPL.

“We are still optimistic. Hopefully, the situation will improve after the monsoon, and we will approach it then,” he had said while speaking of the possibility of staging IPL this year.