ECB to aid a package of 61 million pounds due to coronavirus crisis
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|| CF Correspondent ||
The England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] today announced that they are going to aid a package of around 61 million pounds to help cricket withstand the financial impact of coronavirus pandemic.
The ECB has already postponed all cricket until at least May 28 and they are working to begin the season in June, July or August.
The 40 million pounds of the initial financial package will be distributed among the first-class counties and the county cricket boards. This money, which was set to be paid out over the course of the 2020/21 budget cycle, will now be paid out immediately to assist clubs from this current crisis.
A further 5.5 million pounds will be paid to counties who were not eligible for the facilities maintenance distributions during the 2020/21 cycle, said the ECB.
Suspension of international staging fees for four months and waiving of international staging fees payable in 2020 if the match is not played as scheduled due to coronavirus outbreak.
The plans detail a number of measures for the whole sport from elite to grassroots, including the MCC, the First-Class Counties (FCCs) and their County Cricket Boards (CCBs).
An extra budget of 20 million pound will be remain available to the recreational game through a cricket club support loan scheme, grants through the “Return to Cricket” scheme and a 12-month holiday on loan repayments for recreational clubs.
Tom Harrison, chief executive officer of the ECB, said: “We understand these are challenging times and it has been our priority to provide swift and immediate support to all members of the cricket family at every level in England and Wales.
“We are fully aware that the situation with COVID-19 will continue to develop, and it will be months before the full financial fallout is made clear. We will continue work with all of our partners to protect the ongoing health of the entire game in the short term and beyond,” he added.
