ECB set to unveil plans for new franchise-based T20 tournament
Monday 27 March 2017 18:01, UK
Chairman Colin Graves says the England and Wales Cricket Board are optimistic they will get the go-ahead to create a new domestic Twenty20 competition.
Seeking their own tournament to rival the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League, the ECB are set to present the counties with a plan for an eight-team tournament later on Monday.
The eight franchises are set to encompass regions rather than counties, who would need to vote in favour of changing the ECB's constitution in order for the first staging of the event to take place in 2020.
The current constitution states that all 18 first-class counties must be allowed to play in any domestic competition, but Graves is optimistic the ECB's plans will get the green light nonetheless.
He told the Daily Telegraph: "Once the articles of association (in the constitution) have been changed, it is all systems go.
"This is the biggest thing the ECB has ever undertaken and there is still a lot to do. It is massive. I feel very confident it will get the go ahead.
"I think the counties are seeing the rationale behind it all and the implications for recreational cricket are beneficial too.
"It is about a wider reach of people playing cricket so recreational cricket benefits.
"Women, children and families supporting the new competition is the audience we are looking for, as well as new and bigger income streams for the game.
"The counties all understand where we are trying to get to. They see the rationale behind it.
"They are nervous like everyone else because it is the unknown, but I have said to all of them 'trust us and we will lead you in the right direction'."
