England men’s managing director Ashley Giles insisted the ECB hasn’t taken any gamble with regards to players’ health safety in relaxing some of the stringent COVID-19 protocols for them this summer.
Giles answered questions raised over England players’ bubble security for the season after three players and four support staff members tested positive on Tuesday in Cardiff. The entire first-choice ODI squad had to self-isolate ahead of the Pakistan series. This led to the naming of an entirely different squad captained by all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Even though the protocols, including regular testing, are still there, they aren’t as restrictive as the last summer where England hosted all their matches at two grounds with onsite hotel facilities. In the ongoing summer, they’ve been playing at multiple venues and staying at different hotels as part of ECB’s new protection model.
The relaxations were given following a risk assessment of areas around hotels where players have been staying, besides keeping in mind players’ wellbeing and avoiding extensive bubble fatigue. And though the surge of delta variant increased the chances of infections, it was a risk ECB was willing to take when the UK government is relaxing overall restrictions for the general public.
Giles, however, stood firm it wasn’t a gamble from their end.
“I don’t believe we’ve gambled at all. We are fully aware of the risks – no one is more than us. That is knife edge we are working on all the time. As well as looking after our people and keeping them sane as much as anything, we’re protecting the revenues of the whole game. And it’s a really difficult balance to strike.”
he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Giles also gave an update on players who tested positive in Cardiff just two days before the Pakistan series, saying some of them only have minor flu at this stage, and the rest are asymptomatic. All of them, including regular skipper Eoin Morgan, are now confined to the hotel in Bristol and will be allowed to go home only when they are safe to do so.
