World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore could be the first to lose his job due to Covid-19 after the BCCI issued a warning to state associations to deter people 60 and over and individuals. with underlying medical conditions from joining teams during the pandemic. Whatmore, 66, was appointed Ranji de Baroda’s coach and also director of cricket in April of this year.
The SOP (Standard Operating Protocol) has elicited some different opinions in the Baroda Cricket Association. BCA President Pranav Amin believes that they should continue with Whatmore as a coach, but Assistant Secretary Parag Patel believes the SOP should be followed and that they should not risk involving Whatmore. Restrictions on flights from Australia, where Whatmore resides, have also been mentioned.
In his communication to Amin and members of the BCA Apex Council on August 4, and accessed by The Indian Express, Patel wrote that it might not be wise to risk the health of young Baroda players.
“BCCI is doing this to protect themselves and their partners, that is, state associations and cricketers. Dav might be ready (although I don’t know how he will fly from Australia to India unless international flights are operational). However, citizens over the age of 60 are more susceptible to contracting Covid-19 due to various physiological changes and multiple underlying comorbidities. So the chances of it getting infected are higher, and by allowing it to interact with our guys, aren’t we putting our talent pool at high risk? “Patel wrote.
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His email was in response to the one sent by Amin to the BCA Apex Council members. “We have spoken to a few people, as well as BCCI, and the comments are below. The guidelines established by the BCCI are only a preventive suggestion, not a mandatory decision. The BCCI is doing this just to protect themselves so that the associations don’t blame them for anything in the future. The 60+ rule is just a suggestion and we’ll have to write to you letting you know that Dav is available and willing (which he is). Therefore, I am requesting the CEO or secretary to write to BCCI to inform them of our decision to continue with Dav Whatmore as Baroda’s coach and we know this previously, ”Amin wrote.
A BCCI official told The Indian Express that it will be up to the state association if they want to continue with coaches over the age of 60, as the board has issued a general guideline as a precautionary measure due to Covid-19. “The (SOP) is not mandatory, however, the state association will have to take preventive measures. This POE was sent to help associations. If you want to do your own SOP, you can take some points away from us. Each state has different situations, whether it accepts the SOP or not, it is the state that decides, ”said a BCCI official.
The BCCI SOP had stated that “people over 60 years old, viz. Support personnel, referees, field personnel, and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, weakened immunity, etc., should be considered vulnerable and are believed to be at increased risk for severe Covid-19. All such people should be discouraged from participating in camp activities until the government issues appropriate guidelines. ”
Arun Lal, Ghavri on the radar
Arun Lal is not concerned about the situation as it is only a warning. (Source file)
Furthermore, he is not the only coach over the age of 60; Arun Lal, 65, is the coach of the Bengal Ranji Trophy team and Karsan Ghavri, 67, is the coach of the Saurashtra Ranji Trophy team.
Arun Lal said that he was not overly concerned about the situation as it was just a warning.
“It is too early to comment on this. It is a general warning, nothing more than that. And the notice also says, “must be discouraged” and “not allowed.” In such a situation, things can change overnight and the ad itself says “we can change it from time to time.” The season is so far away that I think it will fix itself, ”said Lal.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association has yet to receive any calls about Ghavri’s work. “We will decide once we know when our national cricket will start. At the moment, we have not made any decisions, ”reported SCA Secretary Himanshu Shah. The SCA had given Ghavri a one-year contract last season.

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