Web Desk — Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced strickt COVID-19 protocols to ensure safe and secure Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7th.

According to the announced protocols there won’t be any handshakes at toss or after the match and players won’t be able to share any equipment.

The PCB has also warned players and other participants of the league that there would be serious action including expulsion from the event if anyone is found violating the protocols.

Detail of Safety Protocols:
After the three-day room isolation and two negative PCR tests, Participants of PSL 7 will be able to enter the managed event environment.

The PCB said, “During the mandatory quarantine period at the hotel, the housekeeping staff is not allowed to enter the guest rooms for servicing. Additional towels, bed linen, water, food, etc. will be placed outside individual rooms by hotel staff wearing a surgical mask who shall ring the doorbell after placing such items and leave. After one minute members should open the door and collect the items.”

Throughout the event the players will be tested multiple times . According to the PCB participants will undergo at least four PCR Tests during the event period in Karachi from January 27 to February 7. Upon arrival in Lahore, they will undergo another PCR test and then during the event period in Lahore, there will be seven more PCR tests.

In the hotel, each team will have rooms on separate floors and maximum possible efforts have been made to avoid cross-interaction between teams. As each side has been allocated dedicated common rooms and players and support staff are not allowed to use other team’s common room.

However, PCB has allowed the delivery of food from outside through an approved delivery service.

“The delivery will be received by the designated staff members, who will sanitise the packages and place them at a designated spot on the team floor. Members, after consuming the food, will be required to wash their hands for 20 seconds.”

According to the PCB dressing rooms will be sanitised by dedicated staff before the teams’ arrival; those with dressing room access will have to maintain social distancing.

Players have been strictly stopped from applying saliva to shine the ball and will also have to use their own equipment.

“There will be social distancing and no handshakes on the toss. Post-match, both playing teams and officials will avoid handshakes, while the presentation ceremony will take place in a zero-contact environment,” PCB has added.

According to the protocols all the ground staff will undergo PCR test 48 hours or less before their first interaction with the players, player support staff, match officials and will always be required to wear a facemask, covering nose and mouth at all times when on field.

Players are not required to wear facemasks at warm-up but must avoid touching their face, nose, mouth and eyes.

The PCB said that suspect or positive cases will be immediately isolated from rest of the squad by the team management. Any Individual isolated due to suspected symptoms will be immediately tested by PCR for Covid-19.

The PCB stated: “All individuals who have been in close contact (same team, individuals on the same floor or any interaction of longer than 15 minutes from less than two meters) with the case during the previous 48 hours starting from the time of collection of the sample which resulted in a positive test, will be isolated and tested.”

The individual will be hospitalized if symptoms worsen during the course of isolation.

The following breaches will be considered as minor:
Not maintaining social distancing of, at least, six feet with people outside the designated zone(s).
Sharing drinks, water bottles, equipment, clothing, towels, and kits with others.
Handshakes with other participants before and after the match.
Not removing dirty laundry from the ground/dressing room after the end of the match.
Going into an occupied isolation room without approval from the Match Manager.
Physiotherapists / Masseurs not wearing masks covering their noses and mouths during treatments.
Engaging in individual physiotherapy sessions more than 15 minutes in duration.
Being present in a restricted area without authorisation.
Meeting anyone from outside the designated bubble other than those on Field of Play.
Breaching any of the Protocols as outlined in the PSL Health and Safety Protocols.

Following acts will be serious breaches:
Visiting or allowing anyone inside the hotel room other than maintenance staff.
Not wearing a face mask covering the nose and mouth when required to do so.
Exiting room during quarantine except for when permitted to do so by the relevant BBIM.
Procuring any item from outside the relevant bubble without informing the relevant BBIM.
Not providing symptom updates when asked to do so by the relevant BBIM.
Not informing the relevant BBIM about developing symptoms.
Taking any measure/medication that could mask symptoms or alter test results.
Meeting any person who is currently symptomatic or has tested positive.
Sharing any information related to Covid cases and/or symptomatic individuals with any unauthorised personnel outside the relevant Managed Event Environment.
The PCB has announced penalties, including fines and expulsion from the league in case anyone is found breaching the protocols.

According to PCB, the penalties can be a fine from 5% of match fees to 500,000PKR and a ban from 1 to 5 matches to expulsion from the league depending on the severity of the breach.

The PCB said that the Health and Safety Protocols document had been designed to ensure health and safety of all participants as well as to provide them a safe and secure environment to prepare, play and perform in the PCB’s marquee event.