The road back to cricket – Part 1

On May 28, the ICC will meet to draw up the resumption plan for world cricket. Meanwhile, there’s been a lot of movement in different parts of the cricket sphere. While some have already let their players start training for a potential return, others are still holding tight too see how the next stage of the pandemic plays out. The impact of the Covid-19 crisis too has been felt differently and here we travel around the globe to get you an in-depth look at how each of the Test nations has been coping with the crisis and what the future of cricket looks like there.

Afghanistan by Kaushik Rangarajan

What is the priority and why?

To fill the coffers, and hopefully do it quickly. The holy festival of Eid Al Fitr has brought temporary respite to the country with warring factions agreeing on a ceasefire. The intra-Afghan negotiations to follow is hoped to further reduce hostilities. It is on that note of faint optimism, that the Afghanistan Cricket Board will turn to the ICC Board meeting of May 28 where cricket’s roadmap for the rest of the year could be chalked out.

For, Afghanistan cricket finds itself in a state of financial disarray. Board president Luftullah Stankikzai has revealed that the support staff, including head coach Lance Klusener, assistant coaches HD Ackerman & Nawroz Mangal have taken 25% pay cuts for May, a figure that is projected to rise in the coming months with the country’s 87 contracted cricketers (55 domestic), who are thus far unaffected, also expected to bear the brunt.

The fact that several of Afghanistan’s benefactors around the world too have been crippled by the pandemic has meant a short supply of aid funds to their government. And it’s a cascading effect that has knocked the ACB hard, which hasn’t yet received its annual government grant – amounting to nearly 15% of its yearly revenues.

Can the ICC help?

They can. The ACB hasn’t yet asked to avail the provision of the ICC’s emergency fund. It’s a decision they may be forced to reconsider if the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup are cancelled. “We pray that the situation gets better so that we get to play the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup this year,” national captain Asghar Afghan says. “If these events are not held, it will be a big blow for the cricketing community and the sport itself.”

ACB have been actively seeking revenue generation in the form of sponsorship after suffering heavy blows on that front. One of ACB’s major sponsors, the Alokozay Group of Companies (AGC), cancelled its contract last year owing to differences. The pandemic then forced Indian apparel manufacturer Tyka to terminate its contract last month.

So, the T20 World Cup is crucial for Afghanistan?

Extremely, as they would be for any board not named BCCI, ECB or CA. The ACB will be heavily reliant on participation fee, more so when the ICC distribution costs (a slice of ICC’s commercial rights pie for 2016-23) being prorated in the wake of the pandemic. The Asia Cup is another important money spinner with India in the mix. However, the futures of both the tournaments are uncertain, leaving ACB with only a promised (outside the FTP) five-match T20I series against and in Zimbabwe.

What are the other roadblocks?

The debilitating effects of the pandemic is likely to turn cricket boards into serving self interests, thereby hitting the likes of ACB hard. Afghanistan, who have a one-off Test scheduled against Australia at the start of the Australian summer, may see that assignment rescheduled with Cricket Australia ready to move mountains in order to facilitate the marquee India series.

Australia by Bharat Sundaresan in Adelaide

It’s understandable if those in Australia currently are looking towards other parts of the world a bit abashedly. Here we are debating about how many people should be allowed inside a restaurant or cafe even as countries like the USA and India continue to try their level best to control the number of people who fall prey to the virus. But having said that, it is to Australia’s credit that they have reached this point as a country where they can have the luxury of even contemplating a quick return to normalcy. Ironically on May 21, the day the world recorded its worst single-day figures, South Australia bid adieu to its final Covid-19 patient, 68-year-old Paul Faraguna, who walked out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital to loud cheers from the nurses and doctors. It meant the state for now is coronavirus-free and the country is on the verge of complete recovery.

The health of Australian cricket in comparison, though still robust, is a bit under the weather. And they desperately seek a dose of Virat Kohli to get up and running again later this year.

What would Australia’s priority be, and why?

To get Kohli to Australia in November by any means possible. Adelaide’s taken the lead in laying out the welcome with reports already emerging of how the brand-new Oval Hotel will be ready to host Kohli & Co, not just for the Test scheduled here, but for all four of them if the need arises. For Cricket Australia, a loss of approximately AUD 300 million looms ominously over fears of that tour possibly not taking place. And the broadcasters have already justified some of CA’s fears by indicating that the payment due in September would depend squarely on the home summer going to plan. The contracted players are already on pay-cuts while Justin Langer and his support staff have to be content with a sliver of their original earnings. Every state association save NSW has had to either furlough staff or slash payments. Oh, and the T20 World Cup is not ruled out, but not many are talking about it without being prompted to do so.

The Indian tour is likely to go through?

It’s too early for there to be a change made to India’s Test tour dates since we’re still nearly five months from them arriving here. So, in the 9 in 10 chance – to quote Kevin Roberts – it does happen, there would be no major alteration to when and perhaps even where India play those Tests. The only catch could be if India end up playing two additional ODIs to the three already in their itinerary.

Australia has started opening up a lot more than other countries though?

Australia is already bracing for the return of live sport. The National Rugby League (NRL) is the first to take the dive into the literal unknown when it resumes on Thursday (May 28). Aussie rules won’t be left behind either with the AFL set to recommence on June 11. Cricketers around the country too have started their respective training programs with their state teams, even if it’s only sprints and fitness work for now. State borders are still not completely open in most regions around the country with quarantine periods still in place for those engaging in interstate travel. But there’s already talk of the Indian players being provided with special clearances. There’s already a precedent set with how they’ve flown in the New Zealand Warriors for the NRL a few weeks before the restart. The only real threat to the Aussies not getting their way is the odd chance of a second wave that few experts are predicting in this part of the world.

What if there is a second wave?

There is a contingency plan being worked out on either side of the Tasman to make sure a shock Indian team withdrawal doesn’t leave the Aussie summer with a gaping hole. There’s even talk of a much more glitzy version of the BBL with jazzier rules and potentially all the star names, who’ve generally given the tournament a skip. With the players having come out of their “vacation” time and straight into fitness training, the domestic cricket season might start on time. Though there are some reports that suggest that the AFL final will be played in front of thousands of spectators, there’s no pretence about cricket at any level seeing anyone but only those very essential to the match being present at the venue.

Bangladesh by Atif Azam in Dhaka

What is the priority and why?

Cricket is certainly not at the top of the agenda in Bangladesh at the moment, and taking recent developments into account, it’s unlikely to make any headway soon. The way BCB president reacted recently, chances are very slim that the tour of Sri Lanka will happen while New Zealand’s arrival in July is also doubtful considering they have opted not to travel to Sri Lanka, a country that has proven more effective at tackling the spread of the Coronavirus than Bangladesh. From a purely financial perspective, the T20 World Cup in Australia is the most critical tournament of the year and therefore a priority. More clarity on whether that will go ahead as planned in October-November will be known after an ICC meeting on May 28.

What about domestic cricket?

While cricket training is resuming in some parts of the world, that is not the case in Bangladesh, and it is highly unlikely to do so soon unless the board officials change their mind in this regard. Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh has urged concerned authorities to resume the Dhaka Premier League, which is a critical money earner for most of the country’s players, after Eid but whether that is possible remains to be seen as there was no headway in this regard.

“We have to consider a couple of things. ICC will have their own recommendations on how we do certain things and then we will also have to see how other boards will be resuming their cricket,” said BCB director and Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis chairman Kazi Inam Ahmed. “We can only make our decisions after assessing the situation. There’s no effect of coronavirus in New Zealand. So, they can restart but it would not be same in New York.”

What does the future look like?

Although the BCB is convinced that they can survive the financial trauma for five to six months and, unlike other boards, opted not to go for pay cuts immediately, they might have to choose differently in the coming days considering they were expecting to recover most of their losses through the Asia Cup and the ICC World T20.

The future is not looking good at the moment considering the virus has been spreading fast during the last couple of days, and improvement is certainly slower than expected. The cricketers are getting bored staying at home but more than anything, financial insecurities have started to grip most of the cricketers.

”If we had played a couple of matches then the club officials could have cleared us 50 percent of the payment, but that is not the case. If it continues in this manner chances are high that there will be no DPL and it will be a huge blow considering a major part of our yearly income comes through it,” said former left-arm spinner Enamul Haque.

England by Rob Johnston in London

What is the priority and why?

The ECB’s priority is to play as much men’s Test cricket as possible this summer. Home Test matches, with their associated broadcast revenue, is the financial engine which drives the game in England and Wales and on which so much else depends, including, by the ECB’s own admission, the women’s game and county cricket. The game has already suffered a GBP 100m loss, which could rise to GBP 380m if no international cricket is played this season. Quite simply, the more Tests the ECB can get on, the less money the game will lose.

When could it possibly happen?

The ECB are aiming for a July 8 start date for a three-Test series against West Indies, playing behind closed doors at bio-secure venues, with all players and support staff staying on site. More Tests against Pakistan will potentially follow. England’s bowlers returned to training on Thursday (May 21) with a view to resuming action in early July.

What are the roadblocks?

The key to any resumption is gaining government approval. If a second wave of Covid-19 hits the United Kingdom, that approval may not be forthcoming. Then there’s the complexity of getting the games on safely. For county cricket, with its greater number of teams and venues, that challenge is even greater still. There remains the possibility that no domestic cricket will take place this summer, leaving hundreds of county players in limbo.

That aside, what does the future look like?

Much depends on how much money the game eventually loses but there is certainly going to be an impact on the level of investment possible in the next few years. No budget is being ring-fenced, so from the top level to recreational cricket cuts will be made. What to cut and by how much will not be easy decisions. Nobody really knows how the county game will emerge from this but the possibility that a county or two could go under cannot be discounted. The one certainty? The ECB have confirmed The Hundred will take place next year.

India by Kritika Naidu

What is the priority, and why?

The Indian Premier League – if there was any doubt. And with the Indian government relaxing restrictions on sporting events, albeit allowing them only behind closed doors, there’s an open chance for the IPL being back in the reckoning to take place in 2020. The IPL alone contributes to a third of cricket revenues globally; the global cricket economy is estimated to being around US $1.9 billion and nearly 2/3rd of that is generated by playing in India or India’s participation. Cancellation of the IPL, as well as the scheduled ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year, would have serious economic implications for the game, factoring in that the IPL’s revenue this year was projected to be 70% higher compared to ICC WT20’s in 2020.

A void season, in addition to the existing impact of Covid-19 on the sports economy, would mean a further hit to the global cricketing landscape across the most important revenue generators-media/broadcast, sponsorship, and ticketing (match-day). However, the advantage that IPL has, even if held behind closed doors, is that the impact is much smaller, having the luxury of being cushioned over eight stakeholders, which could still sustain and support a closed-door season.

“In the case of an ICC event, as the contracts run through till 2023, a deferment to 2022 may be possible without loss of revenues. Not hosting IPL or bi-lateral season of any country will lead to a loss of revenue, which is far from desirable. In an ideal world, the ICC event scheduled in 2021 in India could be shifted to Australia as it is in the same October window and India could host the event in 2022 by creating a suitable window. This will give adequate time for economic recovery and not overcrowd the calendar,” said Sundar Raman, the former chief operating officer of the IPL.

When could it possibly happen?

The tournament that was initially scheduled for late March was indefinitely postponed, which would now need a new window in the international calendar to go ahead. The most likely of which, is the window for the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November. The dates reportedly being deliberated, however, are September last week to the first week of November. But India’s scheduled international commitments will also have to be taken into account which includes the Asia Cup and England’s tour of India in September. There’s little point of hosting the IPL in the next couple of months, flush in India’s monsoon season.

However, the primary concern for any board to host a multi-nation event will be quarantine procedure and facilities, player safety and precautionary measures set in place to ensure a bio-secure playing environment.

What are the other roadblocks?

In terms of the IPL, apart from quarantine-related challenges, the primary hindrance is in terms of travel restrictions and procedures. Sri Lanka and the UAE have volunteered to play host to the 2020 season if India are not in a position to, but it is likely that it will be held in India, if at all. The franchises, meanwhile, have been divided over participation in the tournament without their overseas players. While the Chennai Super Kings were against the idea of playing without their foreign players, Rajasthan Royals were open to a shortened tournament with just Indian players.

All the contracted players have had a forced lay-off for a couple of months and the road to return for training is in process, according to the BCCI, who are said to be in touch with state associations to get players to start skill-based training and monitor the same in the fourth phase of the lockdown. While players can start individual training programs with stadiums open, camps cannot be set until travel restrictions are lifted, which will be from May 31 with a handful of airlines beginning operation for a limited number of routes. However, not all stadiums are available for training purposes, having been handed to local governments for quarantine purposes as centres for those infected by Coronavirus.

That aside, what does the future look like?

The BCCI has quite the task of scheduling its domestic season. Training camps for contracted players will have to wait a while longer. However, BCCI CEO, Rahul Johri believes they need to get innovative in such a scenario given the number of games in a domestic season.

“Domestic cricket is the bedrock of Indian cricket. What people don’t realise is that we conduct over 2,000 games over a span of six months. In today’s world, changing scenario, the scheduling of domestic cricket needs to be completely relooked at,” Johri said. “Today, there is a team that can travel 50km to play a match or 3,000 km to play a match because every team plays home and away. In such times, when travel is restricted, the safety of players and support staff is of paramount importance, how do you conduct these leagues? How do you look at it? It is a discussion that we will have, and interesting options need to come up. Innovation will be the key in this,” he added.

The national side’s next scheduled assignment is a tour of Sri Lanka in July, comprising of three ODIs and as many T20Is. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is supposed to have written to the BCCI expressing its keenness to host that series, subject to the approval of the Indian government. With even the government taking things phase by phase, directly proportional to the spread of virus in the county, it is too early to determine whether or not that series will go ahead. Likewise, with trips to Zimbabwe and South Africa in August. With every other nation desperate to fulfil their contractual obligations to host India in their broadcast rights cycle, the future for Indian cricket at international level looks very busy.

Ireland by Rob Johnston

What is Ireland’s priority and why?

Given Ireland’s home summer has been decimated because of Covid-19, the T20 World Cup in October has taken on even greater importance. Last week, the home series against New Zealand and Pakistan went the way of those against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in being postponed, meaning Ireland will host no international cricket this season. Although Cricket Ireland are working with the ECB to make a three-match ODI series in England happen, the importance of the revenue Ireland receive from ICC tournaments means the T20 World Cup is most crucial.

When could it possibly happen?

There is talk of October’s tournament in Australia being pushed back by a year which would be a significant blow to Cricket Ireland’s finances, which are precarious at the best of times. The ODI series against England, originally set for September, could be moved to earlier in the summer but Cricket Ireland’s CEO Warren Deutrom said last week there was still plenty to work through including “timing, bio-secure venues and quarantine requirements for players who travel”.

What are the other roadblocks?

It was interesting that Deutrom made a point of calling the reconfiguring of the Future Tours Programme international cricket’s “greatest challenge” in a press release last week. As cricket resumes, the danger for Ireland is that they find themselves marginalised as other boards look to set up bi-lateral series against more lucrative opponents. How many games will Ireland get?

That aside, what does the future look like?

In short, very difficult indeed with Cricket Ireland’s financial position the main concern. In December, even before Covid-19 hit with full force, a proposed Test match against Bangladesh was downgraded because of financial considerations and Ireland’s revenue allocation from the ICC until 2023 has been described by Deutrom as a “great disappointment”. The Euro T20 Slam, which was set to begin this year after being postponed in 2019, looks increasingly likely to be scrapped too.

The road back to cricket for the remaining Test nations can be found here