In videos circulated on WhatsApp groups, young cricketers were seen sandwiched in queues while masks were worn below the chin.
MCA secy Sanjay Naik
Social distancing and other COVID-related precaution went for a toss as thousands turned up on Day One of the Mumbai U-19 open selection trials at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Saturday morning, it is learnt.
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MCA officials present there said: “Close to 2,000 cricketers came for the trials. It was an unbelievable scene; quite frightening as well.”
In videos circulated on WhatsApp groups, young cricketers were seen sandwiched in queues while masks were worn below the chin.
MCA’s Apex Council member Nadim Memon, who is also the ground-in-charge at BKC, had suggested splitting the trials area-wise to avoid crowding at one spot.
In his email, he wrote: “I think it will be chaotic at the BKC ground where we are expecting more than 800 to 1000 boys from Palghar, Ambarnath, Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Colaba. If possible, we should plan selection trials area-wise...on different dates to avoid chaos and selectors will also get enough time to watch the players.”
Meanwhile, MCA secretary Sanjay Naik told Sunday mid-day: “There were five doctors at the venue. All cricketers were only allowed after their temperature was checked. We have given the cricketers tokens and they will be allowed in a staggered manner for the next two days. Conducting the trials area-wise was not possible as the selectors felt the time was very short.”
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