Cricket set to dish out £61m aid package
SUPPORT FOR SMITH
Gideon Brooks
THE ECB has announced a £61million aid package to ensure they “keep the lights on” in what they fear might yet be a total summer blackout.
First class counties will receive three months upfront payments totalling £40m this morning to help with cash flow issues.
A further sum of more than £20m has been set aside for interest-free loans and grants to the recreational game.As part of the crisis management, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison suggested he would discuss taking a pay cut to his £700,000-plus salary.
He also announced the ECB was set to take advantage of Government help to furlough some staff. However, Harrison insisted top players will not be among those who see their £1m central contracts clipped.
ECB bosses are working from a worst-case scenario of a complete wipeout this summer with both international and domestic cricket under threat.
Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport about the logistics of cricket behind closed doors. “It is no exaggeration to say that this is the biggest challenge the ECB have faced in their history,” Harrison said.
“There is more pain ahead if we lose a substantial portion of the season.We don’t think this will be the end of it.”
Dean Wilson
AUSTRALIA skipper Tim Paine has given his blessing to the potential return of Steve Smith to the Test captaincy.
Paine, who has been praised for his leadership, wants to continue until the scheduled World Test Championship final at Lord’s in 2021. But he has refused to name the Ashes in 2021-22 as a personal target, which could open the door for Smith to return to the helm after the ban for his part in the sandpaper cheating scandal.
“If Steve Smith decides that’s the way he wants to go, I will fully support him,” said Paine. “Captaining Australia in the next Ashes is not my goal.”