England Set Date For Recreational Cricket To Return

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is at the centre of cricket to make its return after the unceremonious hiatus due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The international cricket will mark its return with England hosting the West Indies in a three-match series followed by the Test and T20I series’ against Pakistan.

England will host the West Indies for three-Test series which will get underway from July 8 with the nearly month long series concluding on 28th. Pakistan will tour England for a Test and T20I series, which will get underway from July 30 with the T20I series concluding in the first week of September.

England Cricket Board wants recreational cricket to return in early July

Hours after United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson, in the House of Commons, said that it would not be able to relax its plan for recreational cricket to return, their cricket board has set forward an ambitions approach.

The England cricket board is keen, along with the nation’s player, for a safe return of recreational cricket. The board believes that as cricket is a non-contract sport, with low risks, it can be played safely. Thus, they have set a target for recreational cricket to return in the country by July 4.

“The ECB along with the nation’s cricket players are keen to see the imminent and safe return of our sport at recreational level and have been working hard with Government to achieve this,” the board said in a statement.

“We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted. It is our strong desire to work with Government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around 4th July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society.

“We are heartened that the Government has already permitted the return of other ball sports, including tennis and basketball, and we are sure that our interpretation of the risks around ball transmission is consistent with these other games.

“We can confirm that any guidance we share with the game will include directions on how to mitigate any risk from handling the ball as we continue to prioritise the health and safety of the cricket family in all our decision-making,’’ it added.

ECB Statement on Recreational Cricket. pic.twitter.com/xPKM0jD9nW

— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) June 23, 2020