ECB suspend loan repayments for amateur clubs amid coronavirus pandemic

The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) offers an interest-free loan scheme provides finance to clubs for capital projects related to building work, equipment purchase and other cricket-specific needs

Loan repayments for amateur cricket clubs to the ECB’s subsidiary charity have been suspended until May 2021 as part of the national governing body’s efforts to support the game at grassroots level through the coronavirus crisis.

The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) offers an interest-free loan scheme that provides finance to clubs for capital projects related to building work, equipment purchase and other cricket-specific needs.

All other terms and conditions remain in place, but the move comes following the suspension of all recreational cricket on March 18 until further notice, which has left many amateur clubs – undergoing their final preparations ahead of the beginning of the season – facing difficulties and uncertainty.

An email sent by the ECB to leagues and clubs also stated that potential ideas are being worked through regarding alternative arrangements for leagues, as well as at youth level, where the Dynamos Cricket initiative – a postcursor to the successful All Stars programme – was due to be launched ahead of the summer.

It read: “Please be assured that we are continuing to work through the questions and what options there will be for running competitions at a later date.

“The safety and wellbeing of all people involved in cricket is our absolute priority and so whilst we continue to work through solutions, All Stars and Dynamos Cricket remain suspended. We are currently working through what this means for those who have registered for both national participation programmes and will be in touch within three weeks to update you.

“We know that cricket can have a huge part to play in supporting physical and mental wellbeing of children around the country and we are working hard to find a solution which involves running courses later in the summer.

“We are fully committed to doing the best for cricket and its communities throughout this unusual period. In the meantime, we are also exploring ways that we can bring cricket to homes across the country through indoor games, challenges and digital content and we look forward to sharing details with you soon.”