GMCL prepares for new season

Following the announcement of the Government’s ‘Roadmap’ relating to the exit from lockdown the GMCL Board have considered the impact on the 2021 season.

A statement over the weekend said: “The GMCL Board have now considered the most recent guidance and welcome the decision to permit outdoor grassroots cricket from the 29th of March 2021”.  This now allows the plans that have been put in place for a full season to proceed, subject of course to no worsening of the national situation.

It is recognised that, with the staged exit from lockdown, there will initially be a repetition of the “adaptive cricket” regulations used in 2020, with restrictions on the use of dressing rooms and clubhouses, but that as relaxations come into place these will be amended as the season progresses.  The League is also expecting further guidance from the ECB and Sport England to be announced in the near future which will give clubs clarity about what, and what is not, permissible from 29^th March.  Once this becomes clearer the GMCL state that “we will make decisions on other matters such as tea provision, deputy professionals due to travel restrictions, managing positive tests and match cancellations”.  They are encouraging clubs to prepare for the new season in the context of the regulations by stating “six weeks is a long time in the pandemic and so the situation may change prior to the 17th of April but we would encourage all clubs to prepare for a full season with promotion and relegation and their teams playing in the divisions as published”.

 Reporter Sport will, of course, bring the latest news and any further developments as the season approaches.