England Cricket Board (ECB) has postponed their new competition, ‘The Hundred’ till 2021 owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, announced the cricket chiefs on Thursday (30 April).
While the English season has been delayed till 7 July and the matches to be played behind closed doors, the ECB has decided to hold the new 100-balls-per-side format that was supposed to be played between eight franchises rather than the established 18 first-class counties until next year.
We’re going to have to wait a bit longer to bring you The Hundred.
— The Hundred (@thehundred) April 30, 2020
We know you’ll understand.#StayHomeSaveLives
“The situation we find ourselves in as a country means that delivery of the Hundred will not be possible this summer," ECB chief executive Tom Harrison in a statement.
Moeen Ali bats for delayed start to 'Hundred' competition
“Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we won't get to realize our ambitions this year, the Hundred will go ahead in 2021 when we are safely able to deliver everything, we intended to help grow the game,” he added.
According to ECB, this event, ‘The Hundred’ was meant for the fans, and thus, having the competition behind closed doors was not considered as an option as it “directly contradicts the goal to attract a broader audience.”
Because of this recent Coronavirus pandemic, not only all the cricketing activities but all the sporting activities were suspended till further notice.
(With AFP inputs)
