PCA and ECB Clash Over Player Welfare in 2025 T20 Blast Schedule

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) has voiced ongoing concerns about player welfare following the release of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) 2025 T20 Blast schedule. Despite a reported reduction in back-to-back matchdays, the PCA remains dissatisfied, suggesting the changes fall short of addressing players' physical demands.  

The ECB announced that the number of consecutive matchdays in the men’s T20 Blast has dropped from 55 in 2024 to 37 in 2025—a reduction of almost one-third. Neil Snowball, ECB managing director of competitions, highlighted the adjustments as evidence of their responsiveness to players' concerns following "constructive conversations" with the PCA.  

However, the PCA believes more significant progress is needed. "There remains a significant number of fixtures on successive days which suggests little improvement compared to the 2023 schedule," a PCA spokesperson said. The union has been vocal about the physical toll on players, with an earlier survey revealing that 81% of county cricketers feared for their health due to season-long workloads.  

Balancing Revenue and Welfare 

Counties prefer scheduling Blast matches between Thursday and Sunday, as weekend games typically boost ticket sales. However, players argue this format increases injury risks and impacts the quality of cricket.  

Daryl Mitchell, PCA interim chief executive and representative on the Professional Game Committee, has been involved in fixture discussions, emphasising the need for balancing player welfare with commercial interests.  

Women's Cricket and Double-Headers 

The 2025 domestic schedule includes an overhaul of women’s cricket, with the Women's T20 Blast divided into Tier One and Tier Two competitions. A total of 52 double-header matchdays, featuring both men’s and women’s games, will be played at 20 venues. The inaugural Women's Finals Day is set for July 27 at The Oval, with the men’s Finals Day scheduled for September 13 at Edgbaston.  

Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women’s professional game, hailed the aligned schedule as "the beginning of a new era" for English cricket, with a unified approach to men's and women's matches.  

Key T20 Blast Fixtures 2025 

- May 29 – June 1: 'Blast Off' opening weekend  

- July 18: 'Friday Finale' (final group-stage matches)  

- July 26: Women's Tier Two Finals Day (Northampton)  

- July 27: Women’s Tier One Finals Day (The Oval)  

- September 3–6: Men’s Quarter-Finals  

- September 13: Men’s Finals Day (Edgbaston)  

While the ECB has called the 2025 schedule "bigger and better," tensions with the PCA underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing player welfare with commercial and scheduling demands.