Is there any point playing cricket behind closed doors and without crowds?

[MenInG]

Whats the point of sport? If you dont have audiences then why are we playing it?

I agree with Border - do you?

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Allan Border says he can't envisage Australia hosting a Twenty20 World Cup without spectators later this year, declaring it would defy belief.

The T20 World Cup, which remains the only major men's cricket tournament which Australia is yet to win, is scheduled to run from October 18 until November 15.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has cast doubt on the 16-team event and prompted organisers to investigate a range of contingency plans.

International travel restrictions and quarantine periods will represent an almighty challenge if they remain in place come October, as is widely expected.

The likely absence of crowds is another stumbling block.

"I just can't imagine playing at empty stadiums … it defies belief," former Australian captain Border told Fox Sports News.

"Having teams, support staff and everyone else associated with the game wandering around the country, playing games of cricket, but you can't let people into the grounds. I just can't see it happening.

"It's either you play it and everyone just gets on with the job and we're past this pandemic.

"Or it just has to be cancelled and you try to fit it in somewhere else."

Glenn Maxwell expressed somewhat similar sentiments at the weekend.

"If you look at the way it's going to be set out, it's going to be hard for us to have crowds there," Maxwell told ABC Grandstand.

"It's going to be hard for us to justify having a World Cup when we can't get people into the grounds. So I can't see it happening in the near future.

"I can't see the T20 World Cup surviving without any people there."

Border added a fan-free tournament would "just be about the television rights revenue".

"Which all sports need. Let's face facts … as soon as we roll into the cricket season and no cricket is being played, everyone starts hurting in our games as well," he said.

Cricket Australia has started cost-cutting measures and is bracing for a significant financial blow because of the health crisis.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04...t-t20-world-cup-beyond-belief-border/12146378

 

[unemployedgm]

Pakistan played test matches in the UAE essentially behind closed doors with no crowds.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan played test matches in the UAE essentially behind closed doors with no crowds.

And we know how that affected us. Playing bilateral is one thing but what about a tournament like that?

 

[Savak]

Can't have any cricket without crowds. Cricket is secondary at a time of an unprecedented epidemic

 

[Bigboii]

UAE experience, we are used to it

 

[Geil]

I would watch it and support it as a viewer or fan if cricket is played with no crowds, but only if its safe for everyone including the players and the coaches, staff and the whole crew involved

If it is possible to resume cricket in such environment then i see no reason to say no, although ICC would only do this if they think they could still earn profits if T20 WC is played with no crowds

If they can do it in a environment which is safe and protected then it is a good positive first step towards resumption of cricket, anyway cricket or in general everything will not be the same for some time because of the virus spread,

this time could be at least or minimum a year or two away when this virus is completely eradicated,then life will be the same as was before corona

Imagine International cricket not being played for a year or two, first steps has to be taken somewhere but it has to be well thought and not irresponsibly handled, If it means playing cricket in empty stadium I support it as a viewer and a fan of cricket, cant say how it would be for cricketers

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

It is often a bat vs ball contest that gets a player going rather than the crowds as Ian Chappell says.

 

[hitthestump]

We risk boards collapsing financially if we don't try and get live cricket played as quickly as possible in any format, so it seems like that's a pretty sizeable point to start.

The standard of cricket would suffer if players had too much time away from competitive games. Everyone is already used to playing without crowds - who watches domestic cricket? Practically no one.

Only the high profile games will be viable initially so you can count on there being a sizeable viewership at home. With less to do there'll be more internet discussion than usual. I know PP always has a big interest in cricket but ordinary people in places like England could be provoked into following cricket in more depth than usual. Can only be good for the game.

If we don't get the ball rolling as soon as possible then the game between rich and poor boards will only get greater. Associate teams like Ireland and Afghanistan have worked so hard and could really suffer from financial blowbacks during this period. The 'Big 3' will never struggle and will get even bigger from having a bigger advantage during a dead period. Big teams like Sri Lanka and Windies could fade away into the abyss while the rest remain in decades of mediocrity where they can't compete.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Test cricket ofcourse they can.

 

[aloo paratha]

Yes. Majority of people watch on TV anyways.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan played cricket without no fans but then again its bilateral series and not major event.

I would say if the world cup cant be re arranged within 3 months then they should play it behind closed doors better than cancelling the whole world cup financially