COVID-19 precautions go for toss during Mumbai U-19 selection trials at BKC

Screengrab from the video

Social distancing and all the other COVID-related precautions went for a toss as thousands turned up for U-19 open selection trials at the MCA's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Saturday morning.

Mumbai Cricket Association sources present there said: "Close to 2,000 cricketers came for the trials. It was an unbelievable scene. Quite frightening as well."

In the videos circulated in the MCA members WhatsApp groups, it can be seen that the young cricketers are all sandwiched in the queue. Masks too were below the chin.

MCA's Apex Council member Nadim Memon, who is also the ground in-charge at BKC, had suggested splitting the trials area-wise to avoid crowding at one spot.

In his email, he wrote: "I think it will be chaotic at the BKC ground where we are expecting more than 800 to 1000 boys from Palghar, Ambarnath, Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Colaba.

"If possible, we should plan selection trials area-wise...on different dates to avoid chaos and selectors will also get enough time to watch the players." One MCA Apex Council member described it as: "Cricket ka Kumbh mela."