Post Covid Cricket
Remember that 1998 desert storm innings by Sachin, that NATWEST series finale and Dada’s celebration of the 2003 WC final heartbreak or the 2007 T20 bowl out against Pakistan?
Those were the golden days but things are changing. What does the future have in store for us?
Going global
In an attempt to make Cricket truly international, ICC had been promoting domestic leagues across the globe. That expansion plan has hit a wall. $275Mn is ICC’s approximate revenue loss for 6 months without Cricket in 2020.
Lost nations
If a cash rich board like Cricket Australia can announce 40 job cuts, imagine the condition in countries like West Indies, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The impact on upcoming associate countries is immeasurable.
Empty stadiums
Content of the slide: While measuring the impact of Covid on cricket is easy, the cultural impact is harder to comprehend. From the sound of vuvuzelas to the warm applauses, chants to mexican waves, fans often add another dimension to the game.
As the recent England WI tour demonstrated, the infectious energy element that the Barmy Army brought was truly missed. Similarly, India will play its matches without the over-enthusiastic support from the Bharat Army, or a Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary.
In-game impact
According to the new ICC regulations, players will be forbidden to use saliva to shine the ball thereby causing the wizardry of reverse swing to be severely impacted.
Lost generations
Right from gully cricket to maidan & Gymkhana tournaments, inter-school competitions to Ranji trophy — the entire ecosystem built over the years will be disrupted.
Recommendations:
ICC should mandate the big three cricketing boards — BCCI, CA, ECB to play one ODI tournament per year with an associate nation to help with their revenues. They could follow suit from the football community and incorporate fanboard cutouts and simulate a stadium-like atmosphere on the ground.
Maybe the pandemic is a small reminder that our debates and criticisms are so shallow when we think that we lost that farewell Dhoni game or a year from peak Kohli.
