New Zealand Cricket advises of planned job losses

With its income seriously impacted by the Coronavirus crisis, New Zealand Cricket has advised that it is to cut up to 15% of its staff, including senior executives.

According to reports, New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White is aiming to reduce the organisation’s staff team as part of a plan to save $6 million in operational expenses.

White told New Zealand news site Stuff that a number of jobs “across the business” in the body’s Auckland and South Island offices could be affected.

In April, staff at the head office in Auckland adopted a four-day week and used their leave entitlements to help alleviate costs.

Since then, the governing body has received $562,000 for its 80 staff from the first round of the New Zealand Government’s wage subsidy scheme.

According to its 2018/19 annual report, NZ Cricket paid out $8.5 million on staff pay. The proposed job losses of 10 to 15% would save about $1.5 million.

The 2018/19 financial year saw NZ Cricket record a record loss of $1.3 million, from income of $59.4 million, in what the sporting body called a “challenging” year.

White said the first draft of the body’s latest budget is based on a worst case scenario for its next financial year.

NZ Cricket’s financial predicament will worsen if it has to postpone planned tours of the country by Bangladesh and the West Indies in October and if the men’s Twenty20 World Cup scheduled for Australia in October is postponed.

On the playing side, White said that Black Caps and White Ferns national team players and coaching staff would not be affected by the cost-saving measures, and the players’ annual retainers will be as forecast for the coming season.