Coronavirus forces ECB to prioritize money-spinner 'The Hundred' over county cricket

upcoming English cricket season was slated to begin with 2020 County Championship in April. However, domestic championship along with several or tournaments and bilateral affairs in England are set to be postponed in wake of ongoing worldwide crisis caused by coronavirus pandemic. According to recent media reports, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are currently looking to prioritize ir high-profile and much-anticipated limited-overs tournaments like Hundred and Vitality T20 Blast over ir prestigious County Championship.

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England Cricket to prioritize Hundred over County Championship

upcoming inaugural season of Hundred was originally scheduled to launch on July 17. It is a franchise-based professional 100-ball cricket tournament organised by England cricket organisers. It was touted by many as a potential rival of cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), which is organised by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

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According to a report by an online cricket portal, England cricket board are planning to t go ahe with its County Championship in order to focus upon money-spinning tournaments like Hundred and Vitality T20 Blast. An official statement is expected to be released soon, according to report. England cricket board is also likely to anunce delay of ir cricket season by a duration of six to seven weeks. If such a delay is anunced, several matches of County Championship would be wiped out from ir 2020 domestic calendar.

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Coronavirus impact on England cricket

Apart from upcoming England cricket season, coronavirus pandemic also delayed Test series between hosts Sri Lanka and visiting England side. series was scheduled to be played between March 19 and March 31 and it was part of ongoing World Test Championship. Several England players participating in Pakistan Super League (PSL 2020) season were also invited back to ir country and tournament itself got postponed until furr tice.

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