SLC look for 5-star exit strategy
National cricketers have missed their regular training sessions - File pic
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) needs an exit strategy to get the national team back into physical training hampered for nearly six weeks by curfews imposed to flatten the COVID-19 curve. And it is now preparing for a residential camp – to take place during or after the country’s restrictions are lifted – as a contingency plan.
The curfew could be removed on May 11 but the Government is still expected to maintain some restrictions to contain the virus and to stop it spreading to communities, particularly in high-risk areas. SLC believes that conducting a residential training camp with a limited number of players selected by coaching staff is the way forward.
Hosting the training camp at its High Performance Centre in Khettarama has, however, been ruled out as it is located in what is deemed to be a high-risk area. A hotel facility has been suggested as an alternative for when the relevant Government ministries grant approval.
A group of experts, including coaching staff and doctors, made the proposal which takes into account all safety and medical advice given by the Government. What is envisaged is a 14-day residential training camp in a five-star hotel in Colombo where players could use the gym and swimming pool facilities.
The attendees will go through PCR testing before the programme starts. This would require them to check-in three days prior. They will also undergo two tests to see whether or not they are infected. Till then, they will have to adhere strictly to prescribed social distancing protocols. The procedure will be followed till the end of the residential camp before they depart. The cycle will be repeated when the next training bloc starts.
Each camp will comprise a maximum of six players selected by Head Coach Mickey Arthur and Rehabilitation and Training Manager Paul Khoury. There will be four to five support staff but this could increase in the event the curfew is lifted. A medical expert from the Institute of Sports Medicine will attend, as and when required. The same recommendations are to be followed even if the curfew ends as the initial phase afterwards could still be risky.
If the hotel gym is thought to be unsafe, it is suggested that the facility at the Institute of Sports Medicine be used. The players could also go to the SSC or NCC grounds for physical and skills training.
Last week, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Arthur said that he has been keeping a close watch on his charges, feeding them specific instructions to keep their fitness levels up.
“We have given them fitness exercises tailor-made to each and every cricketer based on the facilities they have,” Arthur said.
“This is one of the key aspects in this isolation period. They need to maintain their fitness levels so that when normalcy returns they can concentrate on their cricket.”
Cricket has been a major victim of the crisis sweeping across the world with almost all international matches being suspended indefinitely causing huge financial losses to the boards around the world.