Dravid flaks bio-secure environment idea to resume cricket
Image : Collected
|| Desk Report ||
Former Indian great batsman Rahul Dravid has slammed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the idea of the bio-secure environment to resume cricket.
Dravid termed it as unrealistic, stating that they have had no other cricket for which they are trying to introduce such an impractical formula to bring cricket back into the field.
“It’s a bit unrealistic to have things at the level, the ECB is talking about. Obviously, the ECB is very keen to conduct these series because they have had no other cricket...,” said Rahul Dravid, who considered defense of wall in Team India for his placate and serene mode of playing style during his playing career.
“Even if they are potentially able to create a bubble and manage it in that way, I think it will be impossible for everyone to do it with the kind of calendar that we have, with the travelling that you do on tours and the number of people involved,” he told during a webinar conducted in support of YUVA, a non-profit organization.
Like all other global sports, cricket has come to a screeching halt owing to the pandemic that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province. Players have been confined to their homes due to the lockdowns enforced to contain the pandemic.
“At a professional level, players will adjust and not let it affect their performances much. A professional, once he or she gets onto the field, has a lot of pride in oneself,” the veteran right-handed batsman, who pitched out the coaching profession after hanging his boots, said.
“So they will find a way to deal with that. But the experience at the end of the day is not going to be the same,” he added.
He said sportspersons will definitely miss the experience of performing in front of packed stands if sport goes behind closed doors.
“Players love to perform in front of a crowd, engage with their fans and that adds incredible complexity to a sport. I think that’s what a player will definitely miss. There is a personal self-satisfaction when you perform in front of a large crowd,” he said.
Dravid advised the players to only focus on things that are within their control, like ways to regain their skills after such a long and unforeseen hiatus.
“As sportsmen, we are used to dealing with a lot of uncertainty during our careers. Everything doesn’t fall into place. You tend to get scared and worried about stuff but I think one of the things that I would have done is think about things I can control,” he viewed.
“All you can control is your preparation, practice, emotional and mental well-being. You cannot control your results or performances...maybe it would take a bit of time to catch up to their original skill level. But that won't take long. It is just like riding a bicycle,” he said, signing off.
