COVID-19: We want to help as much as we can: England players take pay cut

London: The centrally contracted male and female players in England have opted to take a pay cut during the current global crisis, which has brought cricket to a standstill.

(Photo : Instagram)

With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to sabotage the entire cricket season in England, centrally contracted players have opted to take a pay cut to help out with the load that the enforced break may put on the finances of the game in the country.

The male cricketers are set to make a donation of GBP 500,000 to their employers and selected charitable causes, while the female players have opted for a three-month pay reduction.

“All the players felt like it was the right response in the current climate to take a pay cut in line with what our support staff are taking,” said England women’s captain Heather Knight.

“We know how the current situation is affecting the game and we want to help as much as we can. We will be discussing with the ECB further ways we can help the game in the coming weeks,” she added.

So far, individually, England’s players have been doing their bit to support those in the frontlines of the battle against the virus, an ICC report on Saturday said.

Knight, who led England to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final last month, has paired up with the NHS as a volunteer, as has Sophia Dunkley.

Jos Buttler is auctionion the jersey that he wore during England’s victory in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 final against New Zealand. (UNI)