Red Rose waiting on fate of new season

LANCASHIRE are still waiting to discover whether the new County Championship season will start on time.

The ECB are ‘building contingency plans’ as spread of the coronavirus escalates.

Lancashire have already cancelled their pre-season tour to Dubai and South Africa, and four of their players who were on tour with England in Sri Lanka

– Jos Buttler, Keaton Jennings, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson – have returned home with the national squad.

As has Liam Livingstone, who was playing in the Pakistan Premier League.

“We are undertaking a number of steps to prepare for potential outcomes that an ongoing situation with Covid-19 might bring for the cricket community here in

England and Wales,” said a statement by the ECB.

“In conjunction with our partners across the network, we are building contingency plans across a number of possible eventualities.

“Our main priorities are to ensure we scope out the landscape for financial, logistical and scheduling implications. It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with.

“Therefore, we will continue to plan for the expectation that the season proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of scenarios.

“These could include the possibility of playing matches behind closed doors, or potentially postponing or cancelling elements of the season.

“We continue to enjoy constructive dialogue with DCMS and also our commercial and broadcast partners – who match our ambitions to see the game of cricket thrive in 2020 and beyond. We are certain that jointly, we will all come to solutions that best protect those who love cricket, and the game itself.”

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple is continuing as if the season will start on time.

Lancashire have hastily arranged a three-day friendly with Nottinghamshire

– starting at Trent Bridge on March 30 – and a two-day match with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl starting on April 2.

After which they play Durham MCCU at Emirates Old Trafford from April 7-9 before their season opener against Kent at Old Trafford starting on April 12.