KP CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF BIO BUBBLES FOR PLAYERS

London, Jan. 4: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Tuesday called for abolishing strict bio-bubbles for players and support staff in international cricket, saying that the set-up meant to contain Covid-19 is “ruining the best job in the world”.

Pietersen’s suggestion is radical one compared to the balanced approach of workload management advocated by the likes of India Test captain Virat Kohli and former head coach Ravi Shastri who have also warned that bubble fatigue among players will hurt the game.

“Strict bio-bubbles for players & coaching staff needs to be abolished for good ASAP!” Pietersen tweeted.

“They’re ruining what’s meant to be the best job in the world now. Players & staff are DONE with them!”

Prior to the ongoing Ashes in Australia, there were reports that top English players could boycott the high-profile fivematch series as they don’t want to be confined to their hotel rooms for close to four months due to strict quarantine rules Down Under.

Kohli has been among the most vocal in expressing concern about the challenges players face during long stints inside bio bubbles. He has advocated balanced workload management of the players so that they are not drained out physically and mentally.

“I understand we’ve lost some time without cricket (during the pandemic) but in trying to cover that up, if you lose players then world cricket is not going to be better off. So there has to be a balance in the future,” he had said just before the T20 World Cup last year.

Shastri, who relinquished the India head coach’s job after the T20 World Cup, had said that “sooner or later the bubble will burst, so you have to be careful.”