ECB launches £61m aid package for English cricket in response to virus

The 18 first-class counties and their boards, in addition to the MCC, will instantly every obtain a share of some £40m of their respective financial institution accounts on Wednesday, with an extra £20m obtainable in curiosity free loans and grants.

“It is no exaggeration to say that that is the most important problem the ECB have confronted within the historical past of the sport, the fashionable period definitely,” mentioned ECB chief government Tom Harrison in a convention name.

“We can’t know the complete impression for a couple of months… We are attempting to work across the clock to grasp that impression and take some brief time period steps to assist counties and leisure golf equipment to get via the quick impression.

“Making ready yourselves for one thing like that is extremely tough, it’s a as soon as in a era situation.”

‘Extra ache’

All home cricket in England has been postponed till no less than Could 28, elevating questions on whether or not a full marketing campaign that includes a number of competitions, together with the brand new Hundred event, in addition to excursions by West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Eire is feasible as officers ponder the nightmare prospect of scrapping the season fully.

“There are a variety of various situations –- we do not wish to make choices too early,” mentioned Harrison.

“There are large implications in bringing worldwide gamers and groups over (to the UK).

“In our modelling there is no such thing as a cricket in any respect… There may be extra ache forward if we lose a considerable portion of the season. We’re constructing situations the place we will take additional steps as wanted.”

In the meantime Harrison mentioned there have been no plans to chop the pay of centrally contracted England gamers.

However Harrison, who earns an annual wage of some £720,000, mentioned he can be becoming a member of directors in different sports activities by taking a wage discount.

“In fact I’ll,” he mentioned with out specifying the extent of the minimize.

Harrison made it clear precedence can be given to probably the most profitable matches — internationals, the Twenty20 Blast and the inaugural Hundred.

A brand new format franchise competitors, the Hundred has been promoted by the ECB as a manner of attracting a recent viewers to the sport.

But when followers can not attend for well being causes, it might be delayed till 2021 slightly than deny a number of its goal by being performed behind closed doorways this season.

“It’s not nearly being behind closed doorways for The Hundred, (however) it is among the points we’re grappling with,” mentioned Harrison.

In the meantime Harrison mentioned he hoped cricket might bolster nationwide morale ought to some a part of the season go forward regardless of the pandemic.

“We’re pondering creatively about what this second could be like when the nation comes again out and to have cricket be a part of that,” he mentioned.

“Cricket might be a part of that therapeutic course of.”

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