County opt not to support ECB’s new T20 plans

Kent will not support the ECB’s controversial plans for the new city-based franchise T20 competition. The club are one of 41 members of the ECB with a vote on whether to change the existing constitution to pave the way for a new eight-team competition from 2020 but announced on Monday that after studying feedback from supporters they will abstain in the ECB ballot – the only option open to the club other than backing the proposal. The ECB need 31 votes in support of their plans to pass and though Kent join Essex and Middlesex in confirming they will not vote in favour, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Somerset and Leicestershire have already claimed they will vote for the change. It is expected that the measure will pass, with other votes coming from some of the other 18 First Class Counties, 21 County Boards in nonFC counties, the MCC and the Minor Counties Cricket Association. Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford said: “Whilst Kent Cricket does not wish to be at odds with the ECB, the proposals for the future direction of the game as they stand are such that the club cannot actively endorse them. “The club has, therefore, taken the view that an abstention is the appropriate reaction to the proposed change of ECB articles. We believe that our stance reflects the anxiety there is amongst non-Test match grounds – those unlikely to host new teams – that their role as active players in the future of the game is at risk.” Mr Clifford said he hopes the ‘inevitable’ changes can be altered to ensure the game benefits, adding: “There are farreaching consequences to what is proposed. “We hope that the plans will now evolve to the overall betterment of the whole game in England and Wales and that ECB’s hoped for outcomes around the profile of the game, participation and finance are delivered. “To see First-Class counties reduced to bit-part players will not be an acceptable outcome – no matter how high the profile of the new Twenty20 competition.” KENT’S NEXT FIVE GAMES Apr 27 Hampshire (Canterbury)... RLC May 2 Somerset (Taunton) ........... RLC May 5 Sussex (Canterbury) ......... RLC May 7 Middlesex (Canterbury) ... RLC May 10 Gloucestershire (Bristol) .. RLC