COVID-19 & CRICKET

Lancashire cancel Watling, Maxwell and Faulkner contracts for 2020

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Fri, Apr 17, 2020, 05:23 PM

Lancashire had signed up Maxwell for the T20 Blast. © AFP

Lancashire had to cancel the contracts of BJ Watling, Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner for this season but have kept an option open to sign the trio the following summer, in 2021.

Watling, the New Zealand wicket-keeper, was supposed to play the first nine County Championship games while the Australian duo of Maxwell and Faulkner were signed up for the T20 Blast. Lancashire join some of the other counties in laying off foreign players as a cloud of uncertainty surrounds the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I would like to thank BJ, Glenn, James and their representatives for their total understanding of the current situation and full agreement of this decision," said Paul Allott, Lancashire's director of cricket.

"These are clearly very uncertain and challenging times for all counties, both financially and operationally, and it's clear the issues we face at the moment will have an impact on the way we prepare for the domestic season. The overseas player situation is a policy that has been discussed nationwide and we think it's prudent to mutually come to an agreement with the players we had originally signed.

"We will keep in touch with the players and their representatives, and as part of the agreement we've come to, we do have an option to sign them for the 2021 campaign.

"Clearly, we are looking at a condensed and truncated season, and whilst it is of course disappointing not to have any overseas players at our disposal, it does mean that we will be able to give our young, and homegrown players increased opportunities."

Lancashire's players have also agreed to a 20% pay cut from their May salary while the non-playing staff have already been furloughed 80% of their wages.

"I would also like to thank the current Lancashire squad for agreeing to a 20% salary reduction for the month of May," Allott said. "The players were very keen that any salary reductions for them should be in line with the rest of the club's staff. It has truly been a unified approach to what is a very difficult situation we currently find ourselves in.

"We have been really pleased with the application shown by the players over the past month in what is a completely unprecedented situation. What has impressed me most is their willingness to get involved and help out in any way they can whether it be calling our older members and creating content for the club's digital channels.

"They have supported with fitness tips and coaching videos for recreational clubs and players, involved themselves with the Lancashire Cricket Foundation and have also assisted the club from a commercial perspective, whilst continuing their fitness programmes set out by the sports science and medical team."

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Lancashire cancel Watling, Maxwell and Faulkner contracts for 2020

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