1st May 2020
| Mallory Gray
I hope this finds you safe and well.
I am conscious this weekend would have seen the first league
fixtures of the 2020 season for a number of clubs and we are all,
understandably, very sad that these games, and those that were planned for the
foreseeable future, are not currently permitted to take place, and we can’t get
out and enjoy the game we love and the company of our team-mates.
At Cricket Wales,
we are continuing our regular dialogue with the England & Wales Cricket
Board (ECB), who are working closely with UK government and Public Health
officials to plot a safe return to cricket (both professional and recreational)
as soon as is possible, but sadly recreational cricket remains suspended until
further notice.
We will continue to
provide further updates, as soon as we get them, via our digital channels and
directly through our staff team, on the possibility of play this season and any
other relevant information to help clubs, leagues and volunteers continue to navigate
this difficult time.
I have been extremely encouraged to hear and
read about a large number of clubs with successful applications to government
relief and support schemes and accessing Sport Wales grants and ECB loans. I
have also been heartened to receive a number of emails recently, thanking us
for the information and support that Cricket Wales has been able to provide
clubs and leagues across the country, and particularly highlighting the diligence
and commitment of individual staff members.
I am very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to write and
feed back, and I want to reassure you that we will continue to strive to set
the standard for club and league support among our County Board peers, to
ensure we protect every club, as best we can, from the impact of
Covid-19 and to support you in identifying and managing risks.
Lastly, I have also been incredibly impressed with the
numerous community and charitable efforts that the cricket family in Wales has undertaken
during this challenging period; I commend and thank everyone involved, and I have
been extremely proud to share your endeavours with colleagues at the ECB. We will
continue to hero these stories on our social channels; @CricketWales on Twitter,
Cricket.Wales on Instagram and Facebook.com/CricedCymru so please do continue
to share them with us.
For now, please continue to stay strong and stay safe.
Please do continue to support your clubs and your communities in any way you
can.
We WILL get through this together and Cricket in Wales will
come back stronger.
Leshia Hawkins
CEO