The England and Wales Cricket Board have informed Neyland Cricket Club that the Indoor National Club Championship at the MCC Cricket Academy at Lord’s on Sunday, March 29, has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The decision to postpone the event was made by the ECB earlier in the week, but the six-a-side competition has been provisionally booked for October.
The club received an official statement from ECB Competitions Manager Aaron Campbell:
“Following on from the Government announcement yesterday and the ongoing uncertainty regarding Coronavirus, we have decided to postpone the Indoor Club Championship Final on Sunday, March 29. I hope you all understand the reasons why this decision has been made.
“In these uncertain times I am unable to give a date when we will rearrange this for at this time, but my initial thought is that it will be delayed until October 2020.
“I will provide you with more information as and when the health situation becomes clearer, but as you know this is likely to be in a number of months’ time.”
Back in January, Neyland were crowned Pembrokeshire champions, Sean Hannon’s men followed up by becoming Welsh champions incredibly their seventh title in seven years.
At Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Neyland beat quality teams Ynystawe, who play in the Welsh Premier League Division Two and Newport, who last season won the Welsh Premier Division One which includes top teams such as St Fagans, Cardiff, Swansea, Ammanford and Neath.
Up next was a journey to Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire as they fended off teams from Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire, they got the better of Hook Norton CC and also beat Fishwick CC to reach the grand final which was scheduled to be played at Lord’s.
Skipper Sean Hannon said: “This decision has come as no big surprise with the current pandemic we are enduring. It’s disappointing as we had a bit of momentum going after our excellent win in Bromsgrove.”
The Pembroke County Cricket Club season is due to start at the end of April but is most likely it will also be delayed.
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