Palakkad and Malappuram have cut their leagues down to 30 overs from 50. | Photo: Stan Rayan
R. Harikrishnan, defending champion Muthoot Microfin CC’s main batter, after his A-Division League match in Kochi on Tuesday. | Photo: Stan Rayan
With the temperature rising all around the State, it’s scorching and sweaty indoors and one is pressured to take a frequent bathe. But how do cricketers, who’re in motion for lengthy hours in the course of the hottest a part of the day, deal with the burning sun?
“We have been told to have a lot of water at night the day before matches. We also do a lot more stretching exercises. But we need to start matches earlier, at least by 8 a.m.,” mentioned R. Harikrishnan, the main batter of defending champion Muthoot Microfin CC quickly after his Ernakulam District A-Division Cricket League match, in opposition to YCCC, on the St. Paul’s College floor right here on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old stayed the longest on the crease this afternoon and was his group’s high scorer with 63 however Harikrishnan is used to burning circumstances as he hails from Kalpathy in Palakkad, presently Kerala’s hottest district with the temperature ceaselessly over 40 levels Celsius.
With this being the state of affairs, Palakkad has determined to limit its A-Division League to 30-over matches.
“This is the first time we will have 30 overs in our A-Division which will begin on April 13. We played 45 overs earlier,” mentioned T. Ajitkumar, the secretary of the Palakkad District Cricket Association.
Malappuram has additionally determined to restrict its A-Division League to 30 overs a facet.
The A-Division in Kerala ceaselessly used to begin round October however the adjustments within the Kerala Cricket Association’s participant registration guidelines and the frequent platform (app) for all districts delayed the leagues’ begin by 5 to six months.
Ernakulam, which has 50-over matches in its A-Division League, has suggested groups and players to take extra water breaks.
“We are also working on not having any play between noon and 2 p.m. We are starting at 8 a.m. to avoid playing during the hottest part of the day. And we have made our lower-level leagues, from C-Division to G-Division to 20-20 matches,” mentioned R. Karthik, the Ernakulam DCA secretary.
“We also had a meeting of secretaries two days ago in Thiruvananthapuram and we have been told to advise clubs to close their camps before 9.30 a.m. in the morning and to have their afternoon sessions after 3 p.m.,” mentioned Karthik.
“The daylight now is from 5.45 a.m. so you can start by 6 a.m.”
