ECB Could Lose Over 300 Million Pounds, Employees Set for Pay Cut
The England and Wales Cricket Board are going to lose more than 300 million pounds if the COVID-19 pandemic cancels the upcoming cricket season, said its chief executive Tom Harrison, who is among the ECB employees who are taking a pay cut to deal with the current situation.
On the other hand, England’s centrally contracted players didn’t like the idea of ECB’s offer of taking a 20 percent pay cut as part of board’s plans to fight against the financial challenges arising out of the pandemic, reported ‘ESPNCricinfo’. However, the ECB on Tuesday said that a 61 million support package to tackle the current crisis.
In a letter of Professional Cricketers’ Association chief Tony Irish, Harrison shared his concerns on the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Harrison claimed that he himself will be taking a 25 percent pay cut for the next three months.
“The pandemic is biggest challenge the sport has faced in the modern era although the full extent and impact of the pandemic on cricket is as yet unknown, it is already clear that it will be extremely significant,” wrote Harrison.
While the reserves going down to 11 million pounds in 2018-19 from 73 million pounds in 2015-16, without cricket season it could be worse.
“….by way of offering an indication of the potential scale of the loss to the game, losing an entire cricket season – which is not an outlandish scenario – will cost cricket in England and Wales well in excess of 300m,” Harrison added.
England has suspended all their cricket action till May 28 due to the pandemic, which has taken more than 40,000 people’s lives worldwide. Moreover, there is a question mark on the upcoming county season which is scheduled to start on April 12 whether it can be played this year amid the uncertainty.
However, he thought that the centrally contracted players would agree to the pay cut in these circumstances. Harrison said it can be revisited on a monthly basis until the situation comes under control.
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