Exclusive: Panesar explains bio-secure environment; opens-up on saliva ban

Ahead of the much-anticipated tournament, England's spin great Monty Panesar on Thursday went into details with ETV Bharat about the bio-secure environment and how safe it is.

Hyderabad: Cricket is set to resume with England hosting West Indies in a bio-secure environment for three-match Test series, starting on 8th July, amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming Test series is part of the inaugural 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship and it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Windies were originally scheduled to tour in May and June 2020.

Ahead of the much-anticipated tournament, England's spin great Monty Panesar on Thursday went into details with ETV Bharat about the bio-secure environment and how safe it is.

Panesar believes it is more suitable to play cricket behind closed doors and in a biosecure environment, because there would be just a handful of people and "that is manageable."

"A bio-secure environment is where there are only like 200 to 300 people allowed inside a stadium. No fans are allowed and the players and officials are staying at one hotel. They are sanitising their hand, they will get testesd for COVID," Panesar said, before adding that bio-secure environment is just a "safety measure because we don't want players to get sick."

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, International Cricket Council (ICC) has come out with new guidelines for the safe resumption of the game which was shut down in March.

Keeping 'social distancing' norms on and off the field and ‘safe’ ball management are among the do's and don’ts listed by the ICC last month.

The ICC Cricket Committee also recommended a ban on saliva to shine the ball. And when asked about the same, the 38-year-old cricketer said, "I think we have to think about safety first and take the preventing measures. It is the first game after COVID-19 pandemic and if players get COVID-19 positive at the end of a Test match, it won't be a very good start for live sports."

Panesar feels right now resumption of the cricket is more important and if we have to take some precautions, so be it.

When asked if bowlers should be allowed to use the artificial substance to shine the ball, the veteran cricketer said, "If the bowlers can use some sort of wax to shine that ball, I think that would be quite good. And maybe test it during training sessions."