ECB Bans Selfies And Fan Interactions After Covid-19 Scare

Amidst the deadly virus outbreak across the globe, the England Cricket Board (ECB) cautioned its players — to avoid interaction with the fans and also banned selfies, as a precautionary measure. The move is a part of a plan from the touring side in a bid to keep social interaction — to a minimum as they try to ensure they do not succumb to the spread of the Covid-19 (coronavirus).

The team also asked “all supporters joining the tour to maintain good levels of hygiene” as advised by the World Health Organisation Britain’s National Health Service to avoid possible infection and spreading of illness in a statement released by the ECB on Wednesday.

Amid Covid-19 threat, ECB put forth several precautions –

The England team have been on the island, which recorded its second confirmed case overnight, for just over a week and have stepped up existing precautions ahead of the first Test in Galle on March 19.

“Following the world health agency’s advice, and to protect the players and, in turn, the integrity and continuation of the Sri Lanka Test tour, the team has put in place several precautions, leading to a number of normal activities being cancelled for the foreseeable future,” the statement said.

 

“England players and staff have been asked to avoid any unnecessary public engagements, and temporarily avoid casual supporter interaction such as selfies or autographs,” it added.

England players and staff will continue to replace handshakes with fist bumps in an attempt to minimise contact.

No matches have yet been postponed in the International calendar due to the threat of the Covid-19.

However, the outbreak of the Covid-19 had made a massive impact on the crowd turn out for the International games.

In the meantime, the India-South Africa series opener is also expected to witness low crowd turnout.