Bob Willis Trophy and T20 Blast fixtures to welcome fans as part of government pilot scheme

The programme, which earlier in the summer included first-class matches at Edgbaston and the Kia Oval, was suspended by No.10 following an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country

Matches in the Bob Willis Trophy and T20 Blast will be allowed to host a limited number of fans as part of the government's pilot to scheme to reintroduce spectators to sporting events.

The programme, which earlier in the summer included first-class matches at Edgbaston and the Kia Oval, was suspended by No.10 on July 31 following a rise in Covid-19 infection rates across the country.

However, it was permitted to return from August 15 and a raft of events were on Wednesday confirmed as being included in the trial.

They include as yet unconfirmed fixtures in the four-day Bob Willis Trophy and the Blast, across late August and early September.

Neither the venues nor the number of fans set to be permitted inside the grounds have been announced.

The government is working towards the reopening of sporting venues to around 30 per cent capacity from October 1.

The ECB has been heavily involved in discussions relating to the return of professional sport and its supporters throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

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