Player groups back new Twenty20 league

The players' associations in Australia and New Zealand have given their support to the proposed southern hemisphere Twenty20 tournament that would feature franchise-owned teams in the two nations and South Africa. But Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, said it was imperative the new league did not compromise existing international cricket.

"The greatest challenge for this event and the IPL is to put together a schedule that can fit them in but not have them compete with international cricket," Marsh told AAP. "If we can create a window for the IPL and for this event and ensure the players still have the necessary time for leave and to spend time with their families ..."

The three national boards are hoping to launch the tournament by 2011 and it is most likely to be fitted into an October timeslot, while the existing domestic Twenty20 competitions in each country can remain. Marsh said Twenty20 clearly created positive opportunities for players and for the game itself but retaining a focus on Test and ODI cricket was vital.

"With the IPL, the massive crowds and television audiences, there's no doubt that Twenty20 is bringing new people to cricket," he said. "But if we start putting players in a position where they have to choose between big-money Twenty20 events and international cricket, particularly with players from some of the lesser nations, then international cricket will be the loser without any question.

"You have to understand that the IPL payments for six weeks of work, for some of these players it might be eight or nine times what they earn in a whole year for their country. That's why cricket has to protect the game."

Heath Mills, the executive manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, also offered his support for the new league. "Although the competition is still at a conceptual stage," Mills said, "we are excited by its potential for cricket and our players."