Mental help for players at T20 World Cup

Cricketers facing mental health issues during the Twenty20 World Cup will have 24-hour access to a psychologist, the International Cricket Council said last week.

The preliminary round matches of the tournament, which will be played under a bio-secure environment, which started last Sunday in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The event was moved to the Gulf States after a surge of COVID-19 infections in India.

The players had to isolate for six days on arrival, during which they underwent three COVID-19 tests, before they enter the so-called “bubbles” or managed environment.

“We should expect that some people will be affected, their mental health will be affected by being in confined conditions again, particularly perhaps for those who done it for a long period of time,” Alex Marshall, the ICC’S head of integrity told reporters.

Cricket has mostly been played in  restricted environments since it resumed last year after a lengthy disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic and players in the past have complained about the heavy toll it takes on their mental health.

Marshall, however, warned players to adhere to the rules.