Cricket: teams required to have at least 90 percent of players vaccinated

Teams can only compete in local cricket competitions only if 90 percent of the players have completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

While the Cricket Board of Maldives (CBM) made the announcement earlier this week, they have yet to hold any tournaments this year. CBM further announced that they are preparing to hold the T20 Premier League and Ramadan Cricket Carnival within the year.

However, the statement also points out that during current conditions, utmost priority is being given to the safety of players, board members and employs of CBM. Therefore, like any other sport currently going on, the commencement of the cricket tournaments is also dependent on people’s part in decreasing Covid-19.

The statement asks for everyone’s full support in keeping everybody safe and protected.

As such, the board has made a rule that 90 percent of the players of 18 and above, must be fully vaccinated to compete in any of the tournaments.

While 2021 has not seen any cricket tournaments so far, the last one took place last year; Cricket Carnival. While this Carnival comprises of three competitions -Open Tournament, Office Tournament and Company Tournament- the latter was cancelled last year.

Noting that high expense of Company Tournaments, Secretary General of the Cricket Board Ahmed Munaz had previously told RaajjeMV that they had no plans to cancel it.

Hence, he said that work was ongoing to change tournament "format" to a two-day tournament .

Munaz also notes that despite the format change, nothing will commence without Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) permission.

While company tournaments were halted midway, 14 teams had participated in the 2020 games. As per the prior timetable, the tournament was supposed to go on in three groups.

Winnings teams from all groups will head to the semi-finals, with the last spot for the fourth team with the highest points.