Cricket: Oman Cricket issues guidelines to teams to avoid medical emergencies

Muscat: All teams registered with Oman Cricket (OC) have been advised to ensure only medically fit and healthy players take to the field irrespective of whether it is a tournament game or a practice match.
Determined to prevent any untoward incidents or medical emergencies on their grounds, OC has issued a number of guidelines to the teams, including a directive to hold warm up sessions before all matches.
“It has been observed that players jump into match situations without even doing a mild warm up which is an unsafe and unhealthy practice. Playing sports, particularly cricket, is all about promoting health and happiness and should in no way result otherwise,” Duleep Mendis, Chief Development Officer of Oman Cricket, said.
“OC has, therefore, directed all teams to adopt healthy practices and be responsible for their players’ health and safety,” he added.
It is advisable that all teams must have their players undergo medical tests and obtain fitness certificates before they are registered with Oman Cricket for the season.
“There cannot be any compromise when it comes to the life and safety of a player. Teams have got to ensure they bring healthy players to the game. They must also be responsible for the fitness of players by adopting healthy practices,” Mendis stressed.
Medical emergencies are rare in cricket matches in the Sultanate but two players have died of coronary disease this year while they were playing. Alarmed by the incidents, Oman Cricket has taken steps to prevent, or minimise, such incidents in the future.