The Southern Premier League have imposed an early June deadline for competitive league matches to be played this summer.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all recreational cricket activities are currently banned.
The SPL season is due to begin May 2 with the initial five rounds of fixtures due to be played by the end of the month – but that start date is looking highly improbable.
A Premier League statement said: “It has been agreed that, unless the seasons begins by June 4, then there will be no promotion or relegation. However, we would like any matches that do take place to be played in as competitive a spirit as possible.”
To help that, the SPL plans to introduce a League Cup in each of its four divisions.
The Southern Premier League’s early June cut-off is the earliest imposed by any local league.
The 2020 Hampshire League will comprise only friendlies if no league games can be played before June 27.
Different approach
But if matches are able to start before that date, then normal promotion and relegation rules will apply.
The Sussex League, which has succeeded the Hampshire League as the largest recreational weekend competition in the UK, have taken a slightly different approach, stating that the second Saturday in July is their cut-off point for competitive matches to be played by.
If the Sussex league can start by July 11 and teams can only play each other once only, there will be normal promotion and relegation.
But they will cancel all of the scheduled May fixtures if they decide on Good Friday (April 10) that the Sussex season cannot begin on May 2.
• Provided grassroots gets to green light to resume at an early enough stage, the Southern PL are keen to run a version of the T20 competition, although an Ageas Bowl floodlit final looks unlikely.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all recreational cricket activities are currently banned.
The SPL season is due to begin May 2 with the initial five rounds of fixtures due to be played by the end of the month – but that start date is looking highly improbable.
A Premier League statement said: “It has been agreed that, unless the seasons begins by June 4, then there will be no promotion or relegation. However, we would like any matches that do take place to be played in as competitive a spirit as possible.”
To help that, the SPL plans to introduce a League Cup in each of its four divisions.
The Southern Premier League’s early June cut-off is the earliest imposed by any local league.
The 2020 Hampshire League will comprise only friendlies if no league games can be played before June 27.
Different approach
But if matches are able to start before that date, then normal promotion and relegation rules will apply.
The Sussex League, which has succeeded the Hampshire League as the largest recreational weekend competition in the UK, have taken a slightly different approach, stating that the second Saturday in July is their cut-off point for competitive matches to be played by.
If the Sussex league can start by July 11 and teams can only play each other once only, there will be normal promotion and relegation.
But they will cancel all of the scheduled May fixtures if they decide on Good Friday (April 10) that the Sussex season cannot begin on May 2.
• Provided grassroots gets to green light to resume at an early enough stage, the Southern PL are keen to run a version of the T20 competition, although an Ageas Bowl floodlit final looks unlikely.
