Vernon Philander's Somerset Contract Cancelled In The Wake Of COVID-19

Former South African pacer Vernon Philander’s contract has been cancelled by the Somerset County Cricket Club.

The former Proteas fast bowler, Philander had signed a Kolpak contract with the club post which he announced his retirement from international cricket after the Test series against England.

Philander would have been for Somerset at this time but the proliferation of the global pandemic that is the coronavirus and the subsequent abandonment of the professional cricket activities by the English and Wales Cricket Board [ECB], both the concerned parties have reluctantly agreed to call-off the deal.

Andy Hurrah, the director of cricket at Somerset, the county is disappointed at the cancelation of Philander’s contract but given the uncertainty due to the current situation, it is a prudent and sensible decision.

“These are clearly very uncertain and challenging times for all Counties with no cricket until at least the 1st July and the likelihood of a condensed and truncated season,” Director of Cricket at Somerset Andy Hurry said in a statement.

He added: “It was such an exciting prospect to visualise Vernon returning to the Cooper Associates County Ground, but given the current uncertainty the cancellation of his contract was a prudent and sensible decision,”

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Vernon Philander had signed a Kolpak contract with Somerset 

Hurray thanked Vernon Philander and his management for understanding the gravity of the current situation and he hopes to see ‘Big Vern’ wearing the county colors in the future.

“I would like to thank Vernon and his management team for their understanding of the current situation and we hope one day to see Vernon back wearing Somerset colors,” he added.

Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown that it has imposed has created a great distress in the cricketing world. Most of the high profile series has been canceled and uncertainty galore around the staging of the T20 World Cup as well.

As far as the English home season is concerned, the ECB is trying its best to ensure that at least some cricket is played in the coming days. The board is mulling over staging six Tests against West Indies and Pakistan at two bio-secure venues in Old Trafford and Ageas Bowl.

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