Yuvraj Singh has said cricket should only return once the threat of Covid-19 is significantly reduced the world over, because “the players don’t want the fear of coronavirus around you while playing.”

Mainstream cricket has been on hold since mid-March amid the threat of the pandemic. Authorities in the game have adopted a wait-and-watch approach as Covid-19 unravels the world over, and that has put a question mark around the futures of IPL 2020, the County Championship and the many international series.

Given the financial implications of an extended absence of cricket, there have been some quarters calling for the sport to return sooner rather than later. However, Yuvraj is of the opinion that only once the threat of Covid-19 is reduced by “90-95 per cent” can the sport resume.

“My personal opinion is that first we need to defend our countries, the world from coronavirus,” the former India all-rounder said in The Doosra podcast on BBC.

“It needs to be completely eradicated or come down 90-95 per cent, because if it keeps on increasing, the players will be afraid to come out to the path, go to the field, go to the dressing rooms or changing rooms.”

Cricket is already discussing changing how it goes about things after it resumes, particularly with how bowlers can shine the ball without the use of saliva. And Yuvraj believes there will be too much fear surrounding the disease that will hinder players from focussing on the game.

Healthcare professionals are the true #heroes in the fight against #Covid_19!

Team @YOUWECAN, @ihsmarkit & I are honoured to support @ArvindKejriwal & @msisodia by sending 15,000 #N95masks for #HealthcareHeroes in Delhi

Thank you @IHSMarkit @himanshus_tweet for this initiative pic.twitter.com/qgihjgv1PD

— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 18, 2020

“Already as a player, when you are representing your country, club, you are under a lot of pressure,” he said. “You don’t want the fear of coronavirus around you while playing.

“Like, when you are putting on your gloves, you are sweating … you are batting and you want to eat a banana but some other guy is holding the banana and you think, ‘I don’t want to eat that banana.’

“You don’t want those questions in your head while playing. You need to concentrate on the ball. That’s my opinion. The world can feel free to discuss on that.”