Cricket Ireland implements cuts in response to EPTL failure

Internal communication reveals the aftermath faced by staff at CI HQ as a new budget kicks into gear in the aftermath of the ETPL's postponement

This article first appeared here: https://theparttimer.substack.com/p/cricket-ireland-implements-cuts-in You can follow Nathan on Twitter @nathanrjohns

In an alternate universe, we would be spending our current days at Clontarf or Malahide. The Dublin Capitals, Belfast Super Giants or even Google Rotterdam would be battling for supremacy.

This window at the end of July was slated for the first edition of the European T20 Premier League. Earlier this summer, confirmation came that for a seventh consecutive year, an Irish-led European franchise competition would be postponed.

Official information was lacking at the time. No word came from Abhishek Bachchan, the Bollywood actor who was the public face as co-owner of the league.

Last week, Bachchan finally resurfaced, speaking publicly for the first time since the ETPL postponement. CI shared the interview on their channels. We also received word on Friday that three intersquad 50-over games between Irish players would replace the ETPL. It doesn’t come close to the volume of cricket or, arguably more importantly, the financial remuneration players would have received from a franchise tournament, but such fixtures are well-intentioned.

Slowly but surely, we are getting more information about Irish cricket’s future. The schedule looks a little fuller, while Bachchan looks set to try again for the ETPL next year.

However, what has not been forthcoming is the current effect of the ETPL on Cricket Ireland. It can be revealed that cuts have been made as the governing body reshapes its budget partly because of the competition’s postponement. The new measures aren’t as drastic as high-profile cost-cutting plans in other sports, but they do raise significant questions on how Ireland’s ICC funding is being put to use.

First, to Bachchan. He had an interview with the BBC published recently. Well, I say an interview. This would imply it was conducted according to the principles of independent journalism.

Not once in the discussion, entitled ‘India, Cricket and Me’ was it mentioned that Bachchan’s sole investment in the sport has failed. The journalist (I cannot stress this enough, working for the BBC) did not ask why this year’s ETPL was postponed, despite Bachchan’s previous promises to the contrary. She also spent the last minute of the chat telling Bachchan how amazing he is. It was a staggering lack of accountability from a publicly-funded broadcaster.

The only passing reference to this year’s ETPL disappointment came when mentioning a league happening “next year”. Other than that, Bachchan came up with his already-used line about changing the cricketing landscape for local talent. This despite Irish players already featuring in the IPL, PSL, CPL (I could go on…) without an ETPL ball bowled in anger.

A famous figure avoiding accountability is nothing new. Most of the time it barely deserves more than a sigh of frustration. Why does this solitary interview warrant something more?

It’s not the interview. But the aftermath of the ETPL postponement/cancellation (choice of term dependent on personal cynicism levels). Bachchan came to Ireland, promised the world and failed to deliver. The position that left Cricket Ireland in has largely been unclear. Until now.

CI CEO Warren Deutrom sent an email to staff in recent weeks detailing a number of cost-cutting measures to be implemented by the organisation. The reason for the cuts? “A combination of the postponement of the ETPL and the severe weakening of the US Dollar have had a significant impact on our projected revenue for this year,” said Deutrom.

Earlier this year, Ger Siggins in The Irish Mail on Sunday reported that the ETPL failure left a €700,000 hole in the CI budget. When this publication asked CI to clarify, they did not respond. Deutrom’s announcement to staff of “an updated 2025 reforecast”, a new budget which necessitates the “reshaping some of our cost commitments for the year” confirms that, not for the first time in recent years, CI budgeted for more cash than they would ultimately get.

We’re not talking Jim Ratcliffe-style cuts. No redundancies have been announced. The office Christmas party hasn’t been cancelled - although Deutrom did say that “all entertainment-related expenses are on hold unless specifically approved by the CFO.”

Generally speaking, the CI cuts are quite small. In a way they’re insignificant enough that plenty don’t warrant mention. Yet the fact that they are so small at all leaves one question; why is a multi-million dollar business scraping for pennies?

Cricket Ireland is not in a healthy financial position. Despite record funding from the International Cricket Council.

A hiring freeze is in place at CI HQ. Presumably, this doesn’t apply to the ongoing recruitment for Deutrom’s successor as CEO. The email said any new hires would be made on a “case by case basis.”

Staff have been asked when travelling to make calls on wifi networks using apps such as WhatsApp to save on the company phone bill. Those with company cars have also been requested to make the vehicle available to colleagues if they go on leave. Hire cars at company expense have been banned. CI sources have complained about needless hire cars and hotel rooms at overnight matches going unused.

The list goes on. No external venues can be hired for meetings. Only essential staff should travel to matches. Overnight stays in hotels are to be limited. Carpooling is a must. From next month, company iPhones are being swapped for Androids.

“We are still on track to deliver a small surplus in 2025 – this is an important objective as we look to build our reserves in coming years to help create a more sustainable business in the medium-to-long term,” said a Cricket Ireland spokesperson when asked to comment on the cuts. “However, we are determined that this will not, where possible, be at the detriment of cricket content.”

In 2024, Cricket Ireland received €12.6 million from the ICC. Their total revenue last year was €16.4 million. Yet here they are looking to save a few quid by making calls on WhatsApp. This seems questionable financial planning at best. At worst, fiscal mismanagement.

None of the budgetary issues are Bachchan’s fault. He promised plenty, but CI didn’t need to include the yet-to-be realised riches in their budget. The Dutch cricket board, granted they stood to benefit much less, did not include any ETPL windfall in their financial planning for 2025.

Cricket Ireland has shared the Bachchan puff piece on their Facebook page. Official communication still associates with a phantom tournament that has left staff scared to run up the phone bill.

The ETPL might actually happen next year, even if most operate under a ‘believe it when we see it’ mantra. The financial windfall, circa $36 million over 10 years, would alter the course of Irish cricket for the better. If securing such riches were possible, of course the ETPL is worth pursuing.

But after seven years of failed franchise cricket, of separate business partnerships coming up empty, surely the plan - in public at least - is to keep the powder dry. The BBC has already planted a smooch on Bachchan’s rear end. Irish cricket doesn’t need to follow suit. They’re too busy searching for pennies down the back of the sofa.

CI desperately needs the Irish cricket public to buy into whatever shape the post-Deutrom vision takes (the current CEO leaves the organisation at the end of August). A bit of tact will be needed.

At no stage during the ETPL process, even after the latest round of public criticism in response to another year without franchise cricket, has there been any sort of cop on. Accountability is still lacking.

No one will begrudge the powers that be the small victory of internal matches for the men in September. Yet it’s disingenuous to pretend everything is rosy while those who organise these intersquad games have to be mindful of every cent they spend.

The ETPL could be life-changing. So far, though, it has done nothing but harm Irish cricket.

Full statement from Cricket Ireland on new cost-cutting measures:

“We are still on track to deliver a small surplus in 2025 – this is an important objective as we look to build our reserves in coming years to help create a more sustainable business in the medium-to-long term. However, we are determined that this will not, where possible, be at the detriment of cricket content. Hence, the recent announcement about best v best fixtures and a solid prep camp ahead of the men’s Bangladesh tour. These two decisions, made in consultation with coaching staff, were viewed as important pieces in the next few months and we have sought to make savings elsewhere across the business to enable this activity.

“Saying that, it should be recognised that we have also had to negotiate a number of financial headwinds in recent months. The postponement of the ETPL has had an impact in planned cost savings (temporary infrastructure costs could have been spread across the tournament and the adjacent England Men’s series) can no longer be recognised, but, more materially, the weakening of the US Dollar (the currency of which our ICC, broadcast and ground rights are paid in) has had a negative impact, but we have mitigated this with forward hedges in place.

“With prudency being the key, we will continue to target savings in the business. Like any organisation with similar challenges, we work with our staff to identify further potential savings, with all funds being reinvested back into cricket content.”