Skip to content
ECB unveils £61m interim support package for professional and recreational cricket

Press release -

ECB unveils £61m interim support package for professional and recreational cricket

  • Financial assistance made available at every level of the game; across counties, boards and clubs
  • Package includes early release of £40m to support immediate cash flow challenges
  • More than £20m available in interest-free loans and grants to recreational clubs

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced a £61 million package to help cricket withstand the financial impact of COVID-19.

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). Local cricket clubs will also be offered support to see them through the coming months.

In accordance with Government advice the start of the cricket season has been delayed until at least 28 May. A range of options for cricket to begin in June, July or August are currently being modelled.

With revenues impacted across the game – from both cricket and non-cricket activities, the ECB Board today approved plans to expedite payments from a number of areas within its 2020-2021 planned distribution budgets. 

Around £40m will be made immediately available through:

  • Early release of three months’ (May-July) county partnership distributions to FCCs and CCBs
  • The immediate availability of two years’ facilities maintenance distribution
    • Funds available unfettered and not restricted to facilities maintenance expenditure
    • A further £5.5m to be made available for counties who are not eligible for 2020-2021 ordinary facilities maintenance distributions
  • 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 COVID-19

An extra budget of just over £20m will become 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 would like to thank everyone within the cricket network who is working tirelessly to protect the game during this period of uncertainty.

"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."

ENDS

Categories


_____

You'll find all ECB Media Releases and associated resources on our Newsroom >

ECB International Media Guide 2019 >

 

Contacts

Kate Miller

Kate Miller

Press contact Director of Communications
Jonathan Reed

Jonathan Reed

Press contact Head of Media & Publications +44 (0) 7525 596 621
Danny Reuben

Danny Reuben

Press contact Head of Team Communications England Men's team +44 (0)7825 723 620 @dannyreuben
Matt Somerford

Matt Somerford

Press contact Communications Manager - Domestic Cricket +44 (0)7551 134 716
Hen Cowen

Hen Cowen

Press contact Senior Communications Manager (they/them) +44 (0)7585 987 302
Chris Tuttlebee

Chris Tuttlebee

Press contact Corporate Communications Lead +44 (0)7824 551713
Matilda Buss

Matilda Buss

Press contact Communications Officer
Emily Liles

Emily Liles

Press contact Communications Manager - Performance (England Women)

ECB is the national governing body for cricket in England and Wales.

For general media inquiries please email media@ecb.co.uk

ECB NEWSROOM

Lord's Cricket Ground
NW8 8QZ London
United Kingdom