Pakistan tour to England in COVID-19 conditions

Pakistan took decision in hurry

It is too early to say but it is my personal opinion that Pakistan has taken decision to tour England in this current sustained situation of COVID-19, as Pakistan didn't go for Quid Pro Quo as this could have been a bargaining situation for Pakistan to bid England to have a return tour to Pakistan.

Broadcasting woes awaits for Pakistan

Broadcasting is the main aspect by which a host cricket board earns major chunk of the earning for the whole series, but due to current on going COVID-19 conditions, the broadcasters won't be Hatim Tai (an Idiom used in Urdu language in replacement for generosity), instead they would definitely be SELECTIVE in SELECTING the SERIES, means only those series' which would benefit the broadcasters, is going to be the Mantra.

The broadcasters

The broadcasters are now going to be selective in selecting quality broadcasts for a particular nation and country cricket board, furthermore it'd be an opportunity for cricket boards to go for home grown cricket broadcasts structure just like Pakistan had during the WILLS Cup era when PTV used to produce and broadcast the Pakistan's home games to Star Sports, and mind it, it was much better quality wise because at least the cricket presentation was home-grown and furthermore the PCB had the control over the content being shown on behalf of PCB and Pakistan on international grounds.

In short

National Stadium, Karachi during HBL PSL 2020 game

We won't be able to to watch cricket matches between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Karachi or a tri-nation series in Zimbabwe, which is going to hamper an opportunity for teams like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe to prove their worth against competitive opponents, which was supposed to be the good thing for cricket and for those teams altogether, as selective broadcasts would mean selective cricket matches to be broadcasted for the international audiences, which is definitely going to shatter the interests of the masses to watch a cricket game on their TV screens, which is now going to be a dream for many, as there have been audience who like to watch cricket games of minnows and less-known cricketing teams.

Cricket without the crowd

Empty cricket stadiums are now
going to be the fate of the cricketing
fraternity for near future.

It would be unjustifiable for certain cricketers for not having being appreciated and reaction from the chanting crowd off the seats, which is going to be the way it is expected that cricket is supposed to be played for sure. but how it is going to impact the performances of specific and certain cricketers, as I also personally feel it is the crowd chanting which actually enhances the performances and increase the stamina  for cricketers to perform, like Australians had an attitude of defeating their opponents in their own dens because the reaction of crowd getting down-and-out was a feeling which was liked in the Australian cricketing culture, and that was the thing, favored the Australian cricket.

Crowd and the cricketers

It is the crowd which enhances the performances of the cricketers. There have been cricketers who make themselves available for the cricket series' where there is proper cricket structure and crowds like that of the England and Australia, which was exactly seen when Australia games pre-pandemic against New Zealand, games were played in empty stadiums and hence it was like without any enthusiasm and interest and resulting in the games were called off citing the pandemic threat.

Crowd and the cricket commentators

Cricket commentators are also dependent on and upon the reaction(s) of crowd because their reactions make them (the commentators), create certain catching phrases and/or expressions which is later on treated as their registered unofficial trademarks, in short when I remember is the late Tony Greg is to be called one who used to enjoy the commentary while noticing 'n noting down the expressions of the crowd, go through to Sharjah classics commentary where he used to make an ambiance and than watch the same commentator in Sri Lanka where his tone was pretty serious, so crowd is the main thing which actually makes up the ambiance of overall cricket on how it is going to be played.

Pakistani cricketers

It is heard that Pakistani cricketers have been optimistic, as they have been playing in empty stadiums at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah during home test matches Pakistan played at the UAE which includes the famous test match Pakistan played and won against England in Whitewash during 2012 season, and the famous gloomy test match against Sri Lanka which Pakistan won while it was striking night time from evening, hence they are optimistic that they won't be bothered, but I say let something be decided upon a proper time.

But on the longer run

Things are not going to be the same for anyone single cricketer, as there is going to be sans-saliva applied for bringing swing to the cricket balls and bio-controlled environment which is going to have newer dimensions for playing the game of cricket without giving favours.

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