Won't force any player to tour England, says West Indies captain Jason Holder
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West Indies Test captain, Jason Holder has said that he won’t be forcing anyone to be a part of the England tour while adding they would only go for the series if Cricket West Indies deem it safe.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are planning to host the West Indies for a three-match Test series in July as cricket gears up for live action following a prolonged break due to COVID-19. While the details aren’t finalised yet, it is likely that the three-match rubber would go ahead. West Indies captain, Jason Holder has said that he won’t be forcing anyone to be a part of the England tour while adding they would only go for the series if Cricket West Indies deem it safe.
“Each player has to be comfortable in making the step,” Holder said while adding, “It’s been made clear if we are to hop on a plane and go over to England to play, it must be safe.”
“Certainly from my perspective, I won’t be forcing anyone to go anywhere,” he added.
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The West Indies tour of England was originally scheduled to start on June 4 but stands postponed until at least July due to the coronavirus pandemic. And the new schedule could be announced by the end of May.
“We’ve been given assurances from Cricket West Indies that we’d only go over to England if they deem it safe for us to play,” said Holder.
“It’s no different from a frontline worker going into a hospital every day - they’re putting their lives at risk, and still going to make money. The longer we stay off the field, the longer it’ll take for us to make money,” he added.
Earlier, Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave asserted that some of the players will be nervous about touring to the UK amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“There will be no coercing players into this tour,” Grave had said. “If you grow up in a country where the population might only be 60,000 or 70,000 people, to be thinking the UK has had over 30,000 deaths is a massive figure.
“We have to be absolutely clear that it’s safe first and foremost,” he added.