There is no cash crisis at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), says Chief Executive Tim Lamb, following criticism from the Professional Cricketers' Association over the Board's financial affairs.

Lamb stressed that the future of cricket in this country looked healthy, and although there would be cost-cutting measures in 2001, the long-term financial prospects were encouraging.

Lamb told CricInfo: "We lost £3 million worth of ticket revenue this summer, so we have a bit of a juggling act on our hands to balance our accounts for the year 2000. But the future financing of the game looks very healthy.

"We are confident we will be able to get sponsors to replace Cornhill and NatWest. Our broadcasting revenue is set to rise significantly in future years, and there will be more money coming through from other streams.

"There is a perception that cricket is awash with money. But money is tight. We are a big business and occasionally we run into short-term financial problems. I can understand the concerns of the players. There is talk about reducing the payments to the counties and they perhaps feel that will be reflected in their wage packets.

"Let's be honest. The players have done very well in the last few years. They have had salary increases way above the rate of inflation as a result of increases in payments to the counties, which come from broadcasting fees principally.

"If they are not going to have the large increases they have had in the past, that will be a matter of concern, but we all have to live within our means and that is what business and budgeting is about.

"I am disappointed about the vote of no confidence in the board, because the reason why we are in this financial predicament is nothing to do with financial mismanagement. We are in line with our originally-set budgets except we have lost £3 million as a result of lost ticket sales this summer.

"It is difficult to conjure up £3 million. We will balance the accounts for this year – we are looking at ways of bringing forward income. We will obviously have to be conservative in our budgeting, and make sure we don't expand beyond our capabilities. But I don't think the players have too much to worry about and it is disappointing to see them coming out with some of these comments."

Lamb said Graveney's position as both head of the PCA and ECB chairman of selectors was a matter of concern to some in both camps but that he wore the "two hats" with integrity.

"David wears his two hats very well and that is a great credit to him. But there is concern both within the Board and at the PCA about those two hats.

"It is deliciously ironic that the side David selected was so successful. It resulted in us losing ticket sales.

"It is also ironic that the financial difficulties we have, short term as they are, should have been brought about by the most successful summer we have had for some time. But we will get over this. The future looks pretty hopeful and lets hope we can continue the progress in the England side."

Lamb added that the new contracts recently issued to coach Duncan Fletcher and his management team, which would secure their positions until after the World Cup in 2003, would enhance the rate of progress.

"We feel a great deal of progress has been made and we have turned the corner. Of course there is a long way to go but we feel that Duncan in particular as well as Dean Conway, Phil Neale and Nigel Stockhill have really made an impact over the past few months and we thought it appropriate to give them the security of knowing they have long term engagements with the ECB."

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