Ravi Ashwin, Nicholas Pooran and Keshav Maharaj’s Yorkshire contracts terminated

Yorkshire, the English county, has announced that Ravi Ashwin, Keshav Maharaj and Nicholas Pooran have had their contracts terminated. The decision was taken after a mutual consent, involving the three cricketers. The left-handed Pooran was set to re-join the club for the T20 Blast while left-arm spinner Maharaj was due to play the first couple of matches in the county championship.

Ashwin, on the other hand, would have been available for most part of the season. The off-spinner earlier played for Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire and has a fair knowledge about the conditions in England. For the time being, cricket in England stay suspended as the England and Wales Cricket Board has suspended the sport until July 1 at the earliest due to the COVID pandemic.

They have been extremely professional: Yorkshire director

“I really appreciate the players’ understanding in this matter. We have been in regular contact with the players and their agents throughout this Covid pandemic,” Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“They have been extremely professional and appreciate the uncertainty facing counties at present. We hope that we will be able to see them at Emerald Headingley in the future,” the director added. Apart from Yorkshire, several other counties have now cancelled contracts for their overseas players as a cost-saving measure.

In the United Kingdom, the coronavirus pandemic has crossed 1,53,000 with the death tolls up to 20,732. Greater London has been the most affected with 18,000 being the confirmed cases. Apart from their county plans, England’s international cricket has also been affected.

Back in March, the Three Lions were scheduled to play a Test series in Sri Lanka. But it had to be shelved due to the grave situation worldwide. Globally, over 2.97 million have been infected by the ungodly virus with over 2,07,000 losing their lives. Most part of the world is in a lockdown of late.

Recently, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was diagnosed with coronavirus, warned that the UK was at “the moment of maximum risk”. The decision lockdown measures are due to be reviewed again on May 7. He was clear cut in saying, “Don’t give up on the lockdown yet”.