Wednesday 29 March 2017 11:43, UK
The England and Wales Cricket Board's proposals for a new franchise-style Twenty20 competition will be put to the vote over the next 28 days.
The plan was approved at ECB board level on Tuesday and it will now be up to the organisation's 41 members to rule on its implementation.
A quarter of members must be in favour, which means 31 'yes' votes are needed to approve the introduction of an eight-team tournament from 2020 to rival the likes of the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash.
ECB chairman Colin Graves said: "The ECB Board today gave their unanimous support to trigger a formal process to change the game's Articles of Association and allow a new T20 competition.
"Our members have seen the evidence for why the new T20 proposal is the right way to reach new audiences, create new fans and fuel the future of the game.
"Together, we can now take a huge opportunity to not only create a deeper engagement with those who currently follow cricket but to attract a whole new audience and ensure the sustainability of our game. This is a watershed moment for us all to make the whole game stronger."
The ECB's 41 members comprise the first-class counties, 21 recreational boards, the Marylebone Cricket Club and the Minor Counties Cricket Association.
