PCA chief executive praises ECB call to postpone start of the English professional season

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the ECB announced on Friday evening that no professional cricket would take place this summer before May 28

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Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive Tony Irish has backed the ECB's decision to delay this summer's county and international programmes until at least May 28.

Play in both divisions of the County Championship had previously been scheduled to begin on April 12, however seven rounds of fixtures would now make way under the current proposals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further statements from the ECB are expected with regard to the exact composition of the new-look calendar for men's and women's sides both domestically and internationally, but the head of the players' association insists his organisation is fully behind the decision for the collective wellbeing of the cricket community.

In a statement, Irish said: "These are unprecedented times which require the right decisions to be made for all, including everyone working, and involved, in cricket. The PCA supports this decision to delay the start of the season based on expert advice relating to health and wellbeing and taking into account the government's position.

"The decision has at least given clarity to players following a week of uncertainty about whether or not they will be playing over the coming weeks. All players are in this together and as their players' association we now need to work for the players collectively in dealing with the ECB and the first-class counties to find solutions to the challenges ahead.

"Naturally, players have concerns around when they will be able to start playing again, about what the schedule will look like when cricket resumes and about employment security around their contracts. The PCA will represent them in dealing with these issues with the ECB and the counties and seek the right solutions and ones that are acceptable to the players."

Previously, 17 of the 18 first-class counties had either cancelled, abandoned or cut short pre-season training camps scheduled for overseas, with Nottinghamshire the only exception having not scheduled any tours in the first place.

While there have yet to be any confirmed cases of the coronavirus within the English professional system, several counties have had preparations for the upcoming campaign further disrupted as facilities have been forced to close and players asked to self-isolate and follow social distancing guidelines as precautionary measures.

"The decision to delay the start of the season has been essential, given the circumstances the nation faces," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.

"I am reassured by the collaborative effort from across the game that together, we will make the very best of whatever length of season we are able to safely schedule in the coming months.

"With the information available to us at the moment a delay to the start of the professional cricket season until May 28 was unavoidable. This also allows us time to keep pace with a fast-moving situation and continue to plan for how a revised season might look. Critically, we can also remain as flexible and adaptable as possible, within the obvious restrictions we face."

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