A file photo from September 29, 2019 shows Bangladesh cricketers waiting inside the dressing room of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. — BCB photo

In their last foreign tour, the Tigers experienced presidential level security in Pakistan but in their first tour in the post-COVID-19 world they were likely to be put inside a ’bio-security bubble’ for the first time as a safety precaution from the deadly virus.

Modern cricketers mostly confine themselves inside the hotel after returning from the field during international tours, due to increasing security concerns and risk of receiving corrupt proposal.

But the new ‘bio-safety bubble’ in post-COVID-19 era could put them in an even more isolated state, which the West Indies cricket team was experiencing currently.

On June 9, West Indies cricket team arrived in the UK to take part in a three-match Test series which will take place in a bio-secure environment without spectators at Southampton and Old Trafford, venues which have hotel on site.

The Caribbean side was the first sports team to step in the UK after the COVID-19 virus broke out in March and presently they were in two-week quarantine at Emirates Old Trafford after coming from Antigua in a chartered plane.

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief physician Debashis Chowdhury explained how the ‘bio-safety bubble’ over all the players and support staff was formed.

‘Everyone will be tested for the virus and they would have to be tested negative before being put inside the bio-safety bubble. Then that group of people would be isolated from the rest and would be put in a bio-secure area,’ Debashis told New Age.

‘It’s not the team members only, the supports staffs, like the hotel staff, waiter, cook, driver etc, would also be put inside the bio-safety bubble. There could be a set of people who would provide the services, they would be tested beforehand and might have to live inside a bio-safe zone.’

As human contact is the principal spreading route of this highly contagious virus, maintaining physical distance would be emphasised in both travel and training during foreign tours, said Debashis.

‘While traveling, the players might have to sit keeping a gap between them. Instead of one bus there could be buses so that the distance is maintained. In the hotel, if possible, they will stay in one floor with no other boarders.

‘ICC has given the guidelines of training. Solo training, batch training, and group training: there are three modules and detailed instructions are given how to conduct the training and disinfecting the training area after each session is mandatory.’