Tuesday 28 March 2017 09:45, UK
The ECB have presented their plans for a new franchise-style domestic Twenty20 competition.
Chief executives and chairmen of the 18 counties were informed of the plans on Monday morning as the ECB aim to attract a new family audience to the game.
Changes to the ECB constitution are needed before the proposal can be approved with an ECB board meeting scheduled for tomorrow to begin that process.
Under the plans, the new competition will consist of eight new teams - all owned by the ECB - facing off in an IPL play-off style system.
Each team would have a squad of 15 players, including a maximum of three overseas players, under the guidance of a general manager, with every side given a central pot to spend on players and a coaching staff.
Of those 15-man squads, 13 would be selected by draft with an additional two wildcard picks and counties will not be required to pay their players' salaries while they are playing in the new competition.
The plans account for a total of 36 matches in 38 days, allowing for four home matches per team, with a 50-over domestic tournament running concurrently.
Test matches will also be scheduled during that period, potentially preventing a number of England stars from participating in the new T20 competition.
The ECB have also stated their intention for eight of the matches to be shown live on free-to-air television.
Should the plans be approved, the expectation is that the new competition will begin in 2020.
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