Tony Irish, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), is expected back at work on Monday.
Irish, who is also executive chair of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), started his role at the PCA at the beginning of the year, but was soon obliged to take time off for personal reasons.
In his absence, Daryl Mitchell, the organisation’s unpaid chairman, has been left to shoulder a significant burden as the game attempts to navigate its way through the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is understood that Irish will initially return to work three or four days a week.
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Mitchell is no stranger to taking on such responsibility. Irish’s predecessor as PCA chief executive, David Leatherdale, was also obliged to take several months away from work due to a stress-related illness in 2018. As a result, Mitchell was left at the helm as the PCA negotiated pivotal issues regarding the Hundred and the new County Partnership Agreement.
Recognising the huge workload taken on by Mitchell, the PCA announced the appointment of two new vice-chairs (Heather Knight and James Harris) on Tuesday. In an attempt to better represent the women’s game, one of these positions will always be filled by a woman.
With both these roles also unpaid, there is likely to be a debate over the need to properly compensate the individuals involved for the large amount of time required. While the PCA remains keen to ensure every possible pound is directed to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust (PCT, former the PCA Benevolent Fund), there is a growing belief that the complexity and seriousness of the issues involved demand a level of commitment that should be properly compensated. The PCA discontinued the paid role of deputy chief executive a few years ago and has no plans to resurrect it.
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While the PCA is anticipating a sharp decline in its income this year – it has been unable to hold many of its fundraising events – there is the possibility of help at hand. ESPNcricinfo understands England’s centrally-contracted players are still considering where the money they have donated from their salaries – around £500,000 – should go, with the PCT among the favoured options.
The PCT, which estimates the pandemic may have cost it £250,000 in lost revenues to date, provides a wide range of assistance to current and former professional cricketers who have fallen upon hard times or who require medical or psychological help.
The PCA has not, at this stage, called off its lucrative awards night which follows the end of the season. Many staff at the organisation have taken a pay cut or been furloughed.