LONDON, March 16: England are unlikely to be able to offer as many national team contracts as they had hoped because of a cash shortfall caused by a poor World Cup showing and the fallout from the decision not to play in Zimbabwe.

England currently have nine players under contract, but England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan told the Sunday Times that hopes of awarding 11 further contracts would probably have to be shelved.

“The First Class Forum approved a package for up to 20 players, but in the present climate I’d be surprised if they went anywhere near that,” Morgan said. “The financial climate is such that we could not go to 20.”

England refused to travel to strife-torn Zimbabwe for a World Cup match on Feb 13 because of their players’ concerns over safety. They failed to get past the tournament’s first round.

The Global Cricket Corporation, which held marketing and television rights to the tournament, is expected to demand that the ICC compensates them for the loss of the match.

“There is the potential for a loss from the Harare match,” said Morgan. —Reuters