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ECB Funding Cuts for 2003

Friday, April 4 2003

The £2.3m funding initially earmarked for England that has been witheld by the ICC due to the boycott of the Zimbabwe game is due to have far-reaching effects on English cricket in the coming summer.

Initially, each of the eighteen first-class counties will have their basic grants cut by £30,000 ($50,000). This might not hurt Surrey, but counties like Derbyshire are in enough difficulty as it is without further cuts.

"It is regrettable that these cost savings need to be found, but they are part of the financial fall-out from the 2003 World Cup. It is only right and proper that all parts of the game should bear the pain."

"The ECB is committed to managing cricket on a thoroughly professional and modern basis and like all responsible businesses, we need to balance our books. We will further renew our efforts to run cricket on the most cost-efficient basis."

Wonderful. What do I tell my Under 15 team this summer when we're doing net practice with hollowed-out watermelons for helmets and rolled-up back issues of the Sunday Times instead of pads?

And still, millions are starving and persecuted in Zimbabwe.

Posted by Neil