"But as the season progresses that [risk] will possibly lessen," David Mudaliar said.

He was referring to the state government's COVID-19 roadmap, which states that community sport will be open to all participants from December 1.

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Mudaliar, however, believes there is no guarantee people will be allowed to play from December 1 if they are not fully vaccinated. The "goalposts have shifted before", he said of COVID requirements.

"We're really hoping that there's no forfeits," he said, adding that "we'll try and do what we can to get through the first couple of weeks" of the season.

Mudaliar is confident that players barred from participating in the sport because they are not fully vaccinated will resume playing when cricket is open to all participants.

However, he warned that the "biggest danger" affecting participation rates would be the introduction of a rule requiring players to have a third dose of a vaccine - a booster shot - in order to play.

"That will actually be a more significant issue," he said. "I think that will start to have a greater impact [on player numbers]."

It was announced on Thursday that Australians will be offered a booster shot six months after receiving a second dose. The booster program officially starts on November 8.

Mudaliar said some cricket associations were "struggling on multiple fronts".

"People have said to me that there seems to be [player] disengagement that's occurred," he said, "and getting people back [into cricket] may be an issue.

"I don't think that's the case here in Tamworth; I think people are very keen to get back out there as soon as possible."

Community sport was allowed to resume on October 18 after the state achieved a fully vaccinated rate of 80 per cent (aged 16 and over).

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