As England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) comes to terms with the financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic, top English cricketers face major pay cuts, reported The Times on Sunday (March 29), with the board expecting them to "realise the bigger picture".
The deadly virus has globally affected 662,700 people, claiming 30,751 lives, forcing countries to opt for lockdowns and bringing the world to a standstill.
Cricket has seen all its immediate international and domestic fixtures indefinitely postponed. In England, it meant the suspension of the start of the cricketing summer to until at least May 28, but with the situation so grave, the rest of the calendar is also under serious threat.
That, despite ECB looking to salvage as much of the profitable part of the summer - international fixtures, inaugural The Hundred and T20 Blast - would have major financial implications. And to make up for the potential losses, it is understood, the board may look at implementing a short-term pay cut for the likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who would have approximately 200,000 pounds ($249,040) deducted from their salaries if the shutdown continues.
"We're looking at everything about how the game can make savings," an ECB spokesman was quoted as saying by The Times.
"There's a formal process to go through with centrally contracted players but the game needs to pull together at this time. We believe the players realise the bigger picture."
England's centrally contracted players are paid their salaries in full by ECB. The board had announced 10 Test match and 12 white-ball contracts in September last year.
(Inputs from Reuters)
