The England and Wales Cricket Board is preparing to unveil an emergency financial package to support the game during the costly delay to the season – but pay cuts for centrally contracted players are not being discussed. The postponement of the 2020 campaign is set to place a huge strain on the sport’s fragile finances, with no cricket before May 28th and potentially well beyond that. They earn in the region of £1million from their ECB contracts, with red or white-ball specialists on a sliding pay scale. Instead the ECB is likely to use its cash reserves – which have slipped considerably in recent years to around €11million – and offer support for clubs as they seek to access government schemes. The eventual funding package is due to cover the recreational game as well the county system, with the ECB particularly eager to protect grassroots cricket as part of its promise to grow the game in the wider community.

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2020 18:22 UTC