England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has postponed the upcoming domestic fixtures till August 1. ECB, in a statement, said that no domestic competition will be played before August 1 in wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
According to a report published in ECB’s official website, the specifics of the season remain subject to ongoing advice from UK Government and health experts, but the ambition remains to host domestic men’s and women’s cricket across England and Wales later this summer.
The website further reports that PGG will present a report before the ECB in June outlining the number of opportunities for the domestic play.
The Professional Games Group (PGG) will consider all possible opportunities to host the game before submitting its report to ECB.
The consideration of opportunity includes a number of options for both red-ball and white-ball cricket including matches played at all First Class Grounds, the use of a regional group model, as well as consideration for matches, played behind closed doors or with a limited number of supporters while strictly adhering to Government guidance on social distancing.
“We remain hopeful of seeing both domestic and recreational cricket this season and planning with the PGG has allowed us to map a number of potential scenarios for domestic play,”
said ECB chief Tom Harrison.
We will continue to learn the safety Protocols
ECB CEO further added that the board officials are exploring every other option for the resumption of the game but it will happen only when situations would be safe to return.
“…that can only happen though when it is safe, and we have said throughout this crisis that the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the game is our key priority,”
“We have learned a lot and continue to learn about the safety protocols that would need to be in place to stage international cricket behind closed doors in this environment and those protocols will also need to apply to the domestic game,: added Tom Harrison
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