Thursday, January 7, 2021

Distance from family in pandemic leaves debutants emotionally torn

 The Covid-19 pandemic has left young cricketers playing their debut series emotionally affected as they are often missing their relatives and family in times of joy and sorrow.

Mohammed Siraj, who is playing his debut series, broke down on Thursday while the national anthem was being played just before the third Test against Australia as memories of his father, who died a couple of months ago, came flooded back to him. He had not seen his dad for close to three months before he died and hasn't seen his family for over one-and-a-half months since his death.

Hours after Siraj broke down, Australia opening batsman Will Pucovski struggled to control his emotions in the media interaction when he said that he is missing mum, dad and girlfriend who couldn't come to Sydney to watch him make his debut due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Pucovski belongs to Malvern, which is in the state of Victoria, about 900 km from Sydney in New South Wales.

Sydney has recently witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases and the cricket teams are in strict quarantine. According to the Australian team tradition, the family and partner of the debutant are present alongside the player when he is presented with the baggy green cap prior to the debut at home.

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