It’s just not cricket – sports paused, others moved to “avoid clash” with Prince Philip’s funeral

It’s just not cricket is it?

Glamorgan – Wales’ only first-class county club which claims it makes Wales “proud’ is set to “pause” its county championship home match at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff against Sussex on Saturday – because of Prince Philip’s funeral.

The club put out a statement today to say the four-day match will be paused on Saturday “as a mark of respect.”

They are also asking all other clubs across Wales to “pause play” between 3pm and 4pm next Saturday “in order to pay their respects alongside observing the one minute silence at 3pm.”

Bizarrely, although cricket is a very popular sport here in Wales, we do not formerly have a representative national cricket side like Scotland, Ireland or New Zealand, for example, and Welsh players are expected to play for an England side which is run by the “England and Wales Cricket Board” which calls itself the ECB!

As a mark of respect, all nine LV= County Championship matches will pause between 2:50-4:10 on Saturday 17 April, to coincide with the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

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— Glamorgan Cricket 🏆 (@GlamCricket) April 11, 2021

Glamorgan’s statement states: “As a mark of respect, all nine LV= County Championship matches will pause between 14:50-16:10 on Saturday 17 April, to coincide with the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

“We are also asking all recreational cricket clubs across England and Wales to pause play between 3pm and 4pm next Saturday in order to pay their respects alongside observing the one minute silence at 3pm.

“Play will be suspended from 14:50-16:10. This will include 20 minutes for the tea interval so there will be one hour of playing time to make up. 30 minutes is to be made up on the Saturday itself and an extra 15 mins on each of Days 1&2.

‘Silence’

In all, Nine matches in the LV= County Championship will be on hold.

Yesterday, (Saturday) it was announced that English Football League matches scheduled for 3pm on April 17 would be moved to “avoid a clash.” Swansea City were due to host Wycombe Wanderers at 3pm in the Championship and Newport are at home to Cambridge United in League One. In the National League, Wrexham’s game at Woking was also due to kick off at 3pm.

The ECB have also asked all recreational cricket clubs across England and Wales to pause play between 3pm and 4pm next Saturday to pay their respects, alongside observing the one minute silence at 3pm, a spokesperson said.

County cricket clubs have being flying flags at half mast.

The Scottish Grand National at Ayr and Greenham races were also moved to Sunday, with no racing due to take place in Britain between 2.45pm and 4.15pm on Saturday.

Saturday’s meetings at Bangor, Thirsk, Brighton and Nottingham will go ahead but with different start times to ensure races do not clash with the ceremony.

Start times will be announced tomorrow (Monday)

The Premier League was still in talks with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport regarding arrangements while the Women’s Six Nations is “awaiting guidanc”.

Wolves are due to host Sheffield United in the Premier League at 3pm, following the lunchtime fixture between Newcastle and West Ham.

The Chelsea v Manchester City FA Cup semi-final is due to kick off at 5.30pm at Wembley.

The World Snooker Tour is liaising with the DCMS with regard to the World Championship, which is scheduled to start on Saturday in Sheffield.

Premiership Rugby fixtures will be rearranged to avoid a clash, a decision which will affect the 2pm kick-off between Newcastle and Bristol and 3pm fixture involving Harlequins and Worcester.