Coronavirus jokes are over, it’s serious now
Even as the world of sport begins to open up, the threat from Covid-19 still looms large and it would be folly to treat this with false bravado. Novak Djokovic’s misadventure in organising a charity exhibition tournament highlighted this starkly last week.
The tennis ace, currently ranked No.1 in the men’s section, had gone against advice from several quarter in hosting the Adria Tour. Ironically the tournament was to help those who had been afflicted by the Coronavirus. It ended up creating more patients, some of them stellar names.
The problem was not so much that the tournament was staged. After all, some other sporting events too had resumed, like the Spanish and Premier Leagues. Rather, it was the cavalier approach of the organisers and players, including Djokovic, that became the issue.
Public response to the Adria Tour was expectedly big. However, players mixed freely with spectators, increasing the risk of contamination. That apart, there was hectic partying and socialising which happened outside of playing times, with players obviously the centre of attraction.
There was much hugging and backslapping which went on in these parties, with people either ignorant or uncaring of consequences. In throwing caution to the winds, those involved in raising charity, raised criticism and concern instead with their foolhardiness.
The tour ran into early headwinds when Grigor Dimitrov tested positive, followed by Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki, and had to be scrapped completely when Djokovic himself (and wife Jelena) also fell victim to Covid-19, as tests revealed.
A few days later, former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, part of Djokovic’s coaching team and also director of the Adria Tour, also tested positive to reduce the tournament to an unmitigated disaster. The only relief for Djokovic and wife Jelena was that their children had not fallen prey to the deadly contagion.
Djokovic was profuse in his apologies, claiming that all necessary precautions had been taken. News stories about how the tournament unravelled before it was scrapped, of course, tell a different story. But assuming all safeguards were in place, if so many players still got the disease make it even more alarming.
The Adria Tour was not the only event where Covid-19 reared its ugly head. In Pakistan, a whopping 10 cricketers shortlisted for the tour of England also tested positive just days before the squad was to depart to put the selectors, as indeed all players and the PCB in a quandary.
Initially, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan, were found to be afflicted by the virus. Within a day or two of them being isolated Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz were added to this list leaving the PCB at sixes and sevens.
The episode was not without melodrama. Former captain Hafeez, having tested positive, got himself (and family) checked up privately. The result this time was negative, which he posted on his social media handle, causing much embarassment in Pakistan’s cricket circles.
The PCB was not amused and got Hafeez tested again, which turned out to be positive! As I write this piece it is unclear whether Hafeez will make the tour. The team leaves on Sunday, though some can join later after being certifed virus free.
Moreover, all players will also have to undergo tests in England, as has been the case also with the West Indies team.
The good part is that Pakistan’s tour has not been cancelled. But in this rigmarole neither the player nor PCB has come out looking good. More pertinently, this unsavour episode also exposes the pressure on cricket admnistrations as well as players in these troubled times.
The overarching message from the Adria Tour and Pakistan’s cricket travails is that while sport takes ginger steps globally to resume, the situation is far from normal still. You have to be watchful, careful, and not drop your guard even for a moment.
Still lurking around is the deadly virus, waiting for one false step to wage attack.