County chiefs want action from the ECB

DIRECTORS of cricket from the 18 first-class counties have come together to demand a bigger voice in the future running of the sport.

- RORY DOLLARD

Representatives from each county met on Monday, with their most pressing concern being the encroachment of the global franchise circuit on the county calendar.

Where previously only a handful of elite players were in demand at high-level tournaments such as the Indian Premier League, the proliferation of lucrative competitions in South Africa, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates – with the United States and Saudi Arabia poised to enter the market – has increased pressures considerably.

“The cricket landscape has changed significantly in the last couple of seasons and, following our meeting, the DOC feel they have lost some influence in many of the key decisions that have been made within the game recently,” a statement from the group read.