The COVID-19 pandemic enforced a prolonged lockdown worldwide which lead to suspension of every cricket activity around the globe. Almost all of the cricket boards have started struggling financially due to the standstill.
Jimmy Neesham, the New Zealand all-rounder in a discussion with ESPNcricinfo, suggested that Cricket should be started again to keep the game in good state. Whatever the options are available should be adapted by players, said Jimmy Neesham.
We have to adapt to playing behind closed doors
The Kiwi all-rounder, who has featured in 12 Tests, 63 ODIs and 18 T20, said that the game should be protected from taking any further hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and hence players should adopt to playing in empty stadium too.
“If the situation is that the only way to play cricket is behind closed doors then I think it is something that we have to adapt to as players,” Jimmy Neesham told ESPNcricinfo.
Notably, with postponement and slashing of cricket fixtures, cricket boards are started losing the revenue and feared that they would be hit heavily in times to come.
Boards are facing financial challenges
“The reality is that it is a huge financial challenge for a lot of cricket boards to still run without any revenue coming in from games,” said the Kiwi all-rounder.
“So obviously we want to try and keep the sport in as good a state as it can be in. If that means playing games behind closed doors, the guys just need to suck it up and get it done.”
Nothing can beat playing in front of fans
The New Zealander cricketer added in his statement that even though he would certainly adapt to playing in empty stadium due to the extraordinary situation, he will miss playing in front of fans which is totally a different experience.
“Certainly all things considered you would rather have fans in the ground. It adds a lot to the game and to the spectacle. But you want to adapt to the situation that is given to you,” he concluded.
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