The Covid-19 pandemic has made the situation tough for everyone around the world. With frequent lockdowns, financial losses, and other things, the mental fatigue of people amid these stressful times have become evident as well. And, it is no different for cricketers as they have been playing the series under strict bio-bubbles to protect themselves from getting affected by the virus. And, South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has said that cricketers sometimes feel like ‘caged circus animals’ while staying for a long time in bio-bubbles during tours.
“I don’t think everyone truly understands the impact these things have on us, our families and our lives outside of cricket. Sometimes it just feels like we are caged circus animals who only get taken outside when it’s time to practice and play matches to entertain the crowds,” tweeted Tabraiz Shamsi.
Meanwhile, recently, a few members of the England team were getting affected by the deadly virus. Even, the Indian team that is in England right now has come in contact with the virus as Rishabh Pant and a staff member was tested positive and two of the players were in isolation as well.
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On the other hand, Tom Harrison, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had said that the board decided to give relaxations to the players while staying in the bio-bubble considering their mental health. Notably, the Indian team have been in England for quite some time now and they will take on England in a five-match Tes series next month as well.
“We want people feeling good about going out and playing in whatever tournament they’re playing in, whether that’s the Hundred, whether that’s a Test series against India, whether that is county cricket and the RL50. We want people to be feeling like their life is delivering for them, both at home and as professional cricketers, men and women. We don’t want to be closeting players in such a place where they feel like the only role they play in their life is to go out and bat and bowl for whatever team they’re playing,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Harrison as saying.
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“I think that’s a bad place for us to be. We have to be understanding about what it is to be a responsible employer, to be able to get the best back from players. That’s by treating them like adults, and talking and communicating openly about how we best mitigate the impacts of this ongoing pandemic,” he further added.
