Sachin Tendulkar urges ICC to make wearing helmets compulsory for batsmen
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has asked the ICC (International Cricket Committee) to make helmets mandatory for batsmen at all time in professional cricket. The Indian batting maestro recently posted a tweet containing the same message and tagged all the cricket boards around the world to take a notice of it. He is concerned about a grave injury taking place on the field.
The game has become faster but is it getting safer?
Recently we witnessed an incident which could’ve been nasty.
Be it a spinner or pacer, wearing a HELMET should be MANDATORY for batsmen at professional levels.
Request @icc to take this up on priority.https://t.co/7jErL3af0m
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 3, 2020
Tendulkar cited a recent incident which took place in the IPL 2020. In the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab, a throw by Nicholas Pooran ended up injuring Vijay Shankar who was running towards the striker’s end. Shankar was wearing a helmet at that time which softened the blow to a degree. Him running without a helmet could have caused a fatal injury. The Master Blaster is concerned about the same issue. Batsmen often opt to play in a cap against spinners which can expose them to such injuries.
Tendulkar also went on to recount an incident from his memory which could have turned into a serious injury. This included Sunil Gavaskar bowling to Ravi Shastri in an exhibition match. Shastri’s attempt to put away a full toss was thwarted by him top-edging the ball and it ended up hitting him on the face. A helmet in that situation would have saved Shastri from an injury.
.@RaviShastriOfc, this also reminded me of the time when you got hit after top edging a full toss bowled by Mr. Gavaskar during an exhibition game. That could’ve been a grave injury too but thankfully wasn’t! ??
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 3, 2020
On the same day, Dhawal Kulkarni was hit by a throw while he running at the striker’s end. The batsman was wearing a helmet with neck guard at that time thus avoided a serious injury.
Another example of why helmets need to be made mandatory.
Thank God my friend @dhawal_kulkarni was wearing one.@BoriaMajumdar https://t.co/3ZRv8fGLKe— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 3, 2020
Many experts and former cricketers have supported Tendulkar’s idea. They expressed their agreement on Twitter.
Absolutely @sachin_rt and what came off was what was added post Phil Hughes tragedy. And Dave Warner was there on that day and he had thrown the ball here. Just can’t think what could have happened. https://t.co/j6XHn9kH2i
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 3, 2020
You are dead right, @sachin_rt. Wearing of helmets should be mandatory at all levels.
PS: I can now play Mr Gavaskar’s full tosses a lot better ? https://t.co/9FZiRvgQ3j
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) November 3, 2020
