The England and Wales Cricket Board has launched a League Emergency Loan Scheme as part of its emergency support funding, the ECB has released details of a third funding scheme designed to support leagues.
The League Emergency Loan Scheme aims to support affiliated cricket leagues (open-age and junior leagues) during the COVID-19 crisis through the provision of interest-free loans.
Open-age and junior leagues affiliated directly to ECB, or a partnership agreement via their County Cricket Board (CCB) or the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC), National Cricket Conference (NCC) or Afro-Caribbean Cricket Association (ACCA) in 2019 or 2020 shall be eligible for loans.
Nick Pryde, ECB’s Director of Participation and Growth, said: “We’re pleased to be able to offer a new League Emergency Loan Scheme to help affiliated cricket leagues during the current shutdown of the sport.
“It has been great to see clubs receiving financial support through national and local government schemes, as well as through the ECB’s emergency support funding, which launched last month, and now we are in a position to help leagues across England and Wales with the costs they will incur in 2020, regardless of whether cricket is able to return this summer.
“Leagues will be able to apply for a loan of up to £50,000 to cover a number of unrecoverable costs incurred for the 2020 season, as well as assisting towards the cost of cricket balls purchased for the year.
“Everyone across the sport is hoping we will see recreational cricket played across England and Wales this summer and at the ECB we’re working closely with the Government to establish when and how it will be safe to resume play.”
Besides, the cost of cricket balls and plus unrecoverable expenses above £2,000 in the 2020 season may be incurred for block booking and hiring grounds; production of league handbooks; purchase of kit and equipment; and staging events.
A league can apply for a loan of up to £50,000. ECB to its discretion has also kept a provision for higher loans for the leagues.