KCA intends to start camps in September

KOCHI: Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) targets to resume cricketing activities in the state in September once the rains subside and presuming the Covid situation eases out a bit by then. The BCCI on Sunday evening issued a 100-page long Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the resumption of cricket to all its affiliated state units.
The KCA believes that once the relevant approvals are received, they can immediately start with the camps at various venues in the state."All the grounds, the St Xavier's at Thumba, SD College in Alappuzha, St Paul's in Kochi, Krishnagiri in Wayanad, are well-maintained and ready for activities to resume. We are hopeful of starting by September once the rain relents if we get the government approvals," said KCA secretary Sreejith V Nair.
"There are still a lot of details to come out about the tournaments that will be played this season. It is expected that there would only be Ranji Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy for U-19 for men's. U-23 may not happen. Once we get to know about it, we can pick various teams and organize camps for at least 15 days," said S Ramesh, director of KCA's operations and game development.
The KCA also needs to appoint a new selection committee to pick the senior men's squad. "We need to conduct a meeting of the cricket advisory committee to chart out plans regarding selection. For the Ranji Trophy and women's cricket, most of the players are automatic choices. It is for the U-19 team that picking players could become difficult in these times with no selection matches," said Ramesh.
Ramesh said that he is studying the SOP and will hold discussions with the KCA in the coming days on how to go about ensuring the hygiene restrictions mandated by the BCCI.
"It is definitely implementable but could become a bit costlier with single-occupancy rooms in hotels for players, buses exclusive for the transport of players and staff, frequent sanitization of dressing rooms and other facilities," added Ramesh.