The postponement of the 2020 Cricket season in England and around the world does not mean that governing bodies would stop meeting to decide matters. On Tuesday, the English and Wales Cricket Board announced that they had banned players from wearing smartwatches while they are on the field.

The announcement comes as the ECB tries to upgrade its anti-corruption regulations, ensuring that games are free and fair as much as possible.

Initially, the ECB allowed players with smartwatches on the pitch but that was allowed as long as all communication facilities around the field was switched off, disabling the watch from receiving notifications.

This new regulation was also as a result of the increase in live-streaming services. With so many cricket fixtures available for live-streaming at any time, the ECB only thought it necessary to ban smartwatches altogether, except in places like the player’s dressing room.

Smartwatches have since been banned from international matches. The ECB makes it a point to review its regulations every year.

With matches in England banned until, at least, the end of May, the ECB has thought it wise to provide a stimulus package up to the tune of £61million. The package would include players salaries as the ECB made it clear that they would not cut the player’s salary.

Chief executive of the ECB, Tom Harrison, who described the pandemic that has halted cricket activities as the “biggest challenge in its history.”

Harrison would be taking a pay cut and has described the financial package as something that would serve as a light for people during these difficult times. The package would be made available to both elite and grassroots teams.

The ECB had, last week, postponed the start of the 2020 County Season to 28th of May with promises to reconvene in April to see if they can make modifications to the schedule, depending on if it’s safe to play.

Written by: Leon Osamor