Counties face points deductions for financial losses under strict new ECB rules

• Proposed rules similar to those used by Premier League

• ECB responding after Sussex’s operating loss of £1.33m

Cricket counties will face automatic points deductions for making repeated losses under strict new financial rules that will be introduced next season.

The Guardian has learned that the England and Wales Cricket Board is planning to bring in its own version of football’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) underpinned by points deductions in a shadow form next year to give counties time to adjust, before fixed punishments for clubs that fail to break even are introduced in 2028.