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'We play cricket as a family, so it is better that we all get tested': Mohammed Shami ready to follow all COVID-19 rules

While the fight against coronavirus continues, cricketers may see a few changes when it comes to the play. 

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While the fight against coronavirus continues, cricketers may see a few changes when it comes to the play. 

From the ban on using saliva to no claps during a celebration - many things will be changed and Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami says he is ready to accept all the rules and guidelines.

Shami, in an exclusive interview with Zee Salam said that the players will have no issues in order to combat the threat of coronavirus pandemic when cricket action resumes worldwide.

When asked about the difficulties which all the players will face on the resumption of cricket post-pandemic scare, he said, "I know there will be a difficult time on field. There are issues regarding the usage of saliva, new rules against the use of saliva on the balls. There are guidelines for celebrations and spectators. See, I believe if we have such big crises in front of us which require everyone to maintain social distancing then we must follow it."

Shami added that compulsory COVID-19 tests should be conducted ahead of the series. "However, when we play matches, we play it is as a family or a unit or a group. So, it is better that we all get tested before the beginning of every series so that we head into the clash with a clean chit. So that, we do not scare away from coming up in contact with each other. According to me, this will be better," he said.

When questioned about empty stadiums with no spectators, the 29-year-old admitted that fans surely motivated the players, but everyone is ready to fight the threat of the pandemic.

"If there will be a rule that require us to play matches without spectators, I don't think anyone will have any issue on this because we all are batting a pandemic. Though I admit that the presence of fans motivate us during a match, we all are ready to follow the guidelines to combat the threat of coronavirus. Meanwhile, there are options to bring crowd during the match like maintaining a two-seat distance and leaving every second row vacant, distributing masks and gloves. So, there are options available," Shami said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), earlier this week, had issued fresh guidelines for the resumption of Community Cricket. The governing body advised against the use of saliva on ball, while also batting for health and temperature checks. The ICC also suggested the umpires to use gloves during the match.

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