The English and Wales Cricket Board has terminated contracts of the players who were set to feature in the inaugural season of The Hundred, after it was postponed to 2021.

A statement by the ECB said: “We can confirm that a letter terminating current player contracts has been issued today to all involved. This letter is necessary paperwork to legally update and inform players of the situation, which follows a notification last week around the launch of the new competition being moved to 2021.

“We are working closely with PCA on a number of options for players regarding next year’s launch.”

The Hundred, the ECB’s brainchild for a unique 100-ball format, was set to begin on July 17, featuring men’s and women’s teams based out of eight cities. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the suspension of all mainstream cricket, and the “operational challenges caused by social distancing” due to it have been cited as the reason for the postponement.

Given the circumstances, the tournament could seek private funding to ease the burden of ECB’s financial losses, as hinted by ECB chief executive Tom Harrison recently.

The men’s squads were chosen based on the draft in October 2019, while the process of filling the women’s squads was pending completion.