County news

Bransgrove wants more Twenty20 leagues

Cricinfo staff

March 9, 2008

Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire's outspoken chairman, believes England should create its own version of the Indian Premier League to encourage more free movement of players.

Hampshire have been one of the counties hit hard by both the IPL and its unofficial rival the Indian Cricket League. Shane Warne, their captain, is part of the Jaipur franchise while Shane Bond's contract is in serious doubt since he signed for the ICL.

Although no England players have so far been signed up by the IPL rumours continue that Dimitri Mascarenhas is a target. Hampshire wicketkeeper Nic Pothas has also joined the ICL to the displeasure of cricket manager John Terry. However, rather than these issues causing Bransgrove to hit out at the leagues he says the format should be embraced and other versions created as rivals.

"At the moment, it's not clear exactly what effect it will have," he told the Daily Echo. "Change brings opportunity, as well as threat. What I am hoping is that we will start to deregulate our game a little bit more and start competing with these Indian leagues.

"We invented this product of Twenty20 and we should be doing what the IPL are doing and creating a very sexy league for top class cricketers."

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Players/Umpires

Shane Bond

Nic Pothas

Shane Warne

Series/Tournaments

Indian Premier League

England Domestic Season

Teams

England

Hampshire