NZ, Australia, SAfrica mull Twenty-20 tourney in 2011

CRICKET: WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Oct 25 - Australia, New Zealand and South Africa may establish a franchise-based southern hemisphere Twenty20 competition along the lines of the Indian Premier League, New Zealand Cricket said Friday.

The competition, which would be city-based and would involve privately owned franchises, could be in operation by 2011, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

Vaughan said planning was still at the concept stage but it was envisaged the competition would have two conferences, based in South Africa and Australasia. Conference winners would meet in a tournament final.

"The success of the inaugural IPL season in India is an indication of the demand for regional Twenty20 competitions played at a level immediately below international cricket," Vaughan said.

"Gathering a large number of the world's marquee players into a single competition over a compressed timeframe can capture the public imagination and create new audiences for cricket."

Vaughan said the inaugural tournament would likely be scheduled to fit in with the IPL, to ensure top players can compete in both. AP