CSA plans to resume cricket by isolating players in bio-bubble

As the world is going through the coronavirus pandemic, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has started planning the provisions which will be in place once the sports resumes in the country. The reports suggest that CSA is planning to create a bio-bubble for its players. This will be a measure to isolate them to protect them from COVID-19.

During a recent interaction, Shuaib Manjra, the South African cricket team doctor said that the bio-bubble will have some strict standards for entry. He also said that it will be completely sanitized and have limited movement of in and out. He also explained that CSA wants to create an eco-system that is completely safe and sanitized.

“The bio-bubble would be a sanitized cricket biosphere with strict entry standards and limited movement out of this cordon. This will require regular testing of all of those within the bubble,” he told reporters via a teleconference as quoted by India Today. “We want to create a sanitized cricket eco-system that will ensure we account for the entire chain of operations that are sanitized and grant protection to all role-players,” he added.

Manjra says CSA still needs to understand the consequences

Recently, Germany’s football league, the Bundesliga resumed after taking care of the measures properly. Manjra referenced it and said that CSA is trying to learn from them.

“We have drawn from our colleagues in England and Australia, and we have learned from (soccer’s) La Liga and the Bundesliga”, he said.

There have been reports that CSA is planning to invite the Indian team for a three-match T20I series in August or September. However, the pandemic could be at its peak in South Africa during this time.

Manjra also said there are several questions that need to be answered before cricket can resume. He talked about the health aspects for a player if he or she gets affected by COVID-19.

“What is the impact of intense physical activity on players infected with COVID-19 when they return to play? What happens when one of our players’ contracts COVID-19, and I have no doubt that many will. When are they safe to return to play and what are the (health) risks to them when they do? We need to understand this” he concluded.