Yorkshire County Cricket Club CEO Mark Arthur "has warned the delayed redevelopment of Headingley could mean the county loses international cricket for four years and will be excluded from the 2019 World Cup in England," according to the PA.
Leeds Rhinos share use of the main stand with Yorkshire and the rugby league club announced on Wednesday the planned £38M ($47M) upgrade, expected to begin in January, "was being put back owing to problems with planning permission."
For the Rhinos that means the stand "will be back in operation for the coming season but Yorkshire fear a more profound impact on their future."
New and improved facilities "were key to the county’s hopes of winning a favourable allocation when the 2020-2024 England fixtures are awarded next year and without them Arthur believes the ground could be edged out entirely." Arthur: “The 2020-2024 major matches will be allocated in the summer of 2017, therefore this delay could mean Headingley will no longer be considered fit for Test match cricket -- or to host any World Cup matches in 2019." Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington "expressed regret at the news." He said, "Naturally a project of this magnitude has unique challenges and unfortunately we have not been able to conclude some of those to allow us to begin work on the South Stand" (PA, 11/9).
