Southern Premier League advises not to cancel fixtures yet

A LOCAL cricket league is pressing ahead with fixtures despite the majority of sport in the area falling victim to coronavirus precautions.

The Southern Premier Cricket League (SPL) is currently not advising to “postpone or cancel matches” and its season is due to start 2nd May. However, it admits this situation could change.

On the SPL website, general secretary Adam Smith writes: “The management committee is monitoring the ongoing situation with regards to the Covid-19 virus and will be taking advice for numerous bodies on how best to proceed as and when more information becomes available.

“The current ECB advice is to take sensible precautions but to continue with keeping active and are not advising to postpone or cancel matches. However, after yesterday’s government advice, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were to change in the coming days, but we will let you know as soon as possible.

“We decided that it would be a sensible precaution to cancel the 2020 Club Induction (booked for Tuesday 17th March) and issue a presentation via email to those clubs who were attending.”

Meanwhile, the FA has postponed all grassroots football for the “foreseeable future” and it is unclear when it will be able to return.

In a statement, the FA said: “Throughout this period, we have taken government advice with the priority being the health and wellbeing of all. We will continue to work closely with the grassroots game during this time.

“We are in regular communication with the government, and the situation within English football at all levels remains under regular review. Further updates will follow as needed.”

The RFU has taken similar action by suspending all rugby activity which includes training, matches and rugby education courses from 17th March to 14th April. The RFU will continue to review and monitor government advice.

England Hockey has also suspended all its nationally-run activity.

The body said: “This includes our competition and domestic events programme, Player Pathway activity and national youth programmes until at least 15th April.

“We would urge leagues, clubs, schools, Player Pathway centres and others who deliver hockey on a local level to support this approach.”