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.”

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.