Lancashire and Leicestershire to play Bob Willis Trophy opener at Blackfinch New Road

First-Class Counties Lancashire and Leicestershire will play their opening match of the Bob Willis Trophy at Blackfinch New Road in Worcester.

Lancashire will be regarded as the home team for the fixture, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday 1 August.

Leicestershire met all protocols to safely stage the match at the Fischer County Ground, however with the city of Leicester in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision was taken to schedule the match at a neutral venue.

Whilst Lancashire will be the nominal hosts for the fixture, the club are unable to mobilise an outground at this notice to ensure a Stage 3 return to domestic competition under the current Government guidance, whilst also delivering behind-closed-doors international cricket at Emirates Old Trafford in a bio-secure environment.

Leicestershire will retain three home Bob Willis Trophy matches in Leicester with their match against Durham (August 15) rescheduled from Emirates Riverside to the Fischer County Ground.

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