Scotland made their debut in county cricket's National League last year

The grant will be cut from �105,000 to �70,000 this year, to �35,000 in 2005, and they will receive nothing in 2006.

Euan McIntyre, operations director of Cricket Scotland, described the situation as "unfortunate".

He said: "We will simply have to identify alternative funding sources to address this shortfall."

Scottish cricket has received an annual grant from the ECB for 24 years.

But officials at Lord's have been forced to tighten their belts and last April announced a �4m cost-cutting exercise.

Chief executive Tim Lamb warned cricket's grass roots would be affected, saying: "It is only right and proper that all parts of the game should bear the pain."

The ECB may need to tighten their belts even further if they decide England should not tour Zimbabwe later this year.

They are due to take a final decision in March, but the Zimbabwe Cricket Union has warned it will seek comensation if the tour is called off.

Findin new sources of funding, meanwhile, will be top of the agenda for Scottish Cricket's new chief executive, when a successor to Gwynne Jones is named.

Jones quit last month after two years in the job.