BCCI new SOP: 60-plus Arun Lal can't coach Bengal; Baroda may miss Whatmore

New Delhi: The BCCI’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for state associations bars 60-plus individuals from taking part in the training camp, potentially affecting Arun Lal and Australian Dav Whatmore, who are coaches of Bengal and Baroda respectively.

Whatmore, 66, was appointed in April while Lal, 65, guided Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final in March.

“Individuals who are over the age of 60 years, viz support staff, umpires, ground staff and those individuals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, weakened immunity, should be considered vulnerable and are believed to have a higher risk of severe COVID-19,” read one of the guidelines from BCCI”s 100-page SOP, which is in possession of PTI.

“All such individuals should be discouraged from participating in camp activities unless suitable guidelines are issued by the government,” it stated.

Both Lal and Whatmore won’t be able to join the pre-season training camp.

CAB president Avishek Dalmiya was unavailable for a comment but a senior BCCI official said, “This is SOP. It will be very difficult for any team to breach the protocols. It is unfortunate that someone like Lal ji or Whatmore might have to miss out,” the official said.