UK government's decision to allow bio-secure resumption of professional sports behind closed doors was welcomed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as it can now continue with its planning to host international fixtures for the summer after COVID-19 hiatus from July.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, on Saturday (May 30) gave the green signal for competitive sport to return with highest safety protocols followed from June onwards.
"We are extremely heartened by Saturday's announcement from the Secretary of State, which will support the return of professional, domestic cricket behind closed doors, and provides a meaningful next step for recreational players to begin playing at their clubs again," reads an ECB statement in response to the government's decision.
"Over the coming week, we will seek to understand the specific guidance from Government's medical teams so that we can provide support for cricket clubs who will be eager to see their communities safely playing in small groups."
"We extend our thanks to all those in Government who have worked hard to support the return of sport and we look forward to seeing players from across the game start returning to the field."
England is hoping to finally kickstart the summer on July 8 with a three-Test series against West Indies, which was originally scheduled for June, followed by three more Tests against Pakistan. Australia and Ireland are also due to arrive on English shores for limited-overs fixtures.
All games are important to ECB's financial well-being. The board having earlier announced pay-cut for its staff and urging players to volunteer salary cut, had foreseen significant losses in case the summer is entirely cancelled.
Last week, a 55-man group was named by the ECB for outdoor training at several grounds across the country.
Domestically, however, cricket will remain suspended in England and Wales till at least August 1, with no clarity on how the ECB would go about scheduling the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup (List A) and Vitality T20 Blast.
