ICC urged to consider future status of T10 format

A sign for the International Cricket Council at their headquarters in Dubai
Cricket's world governing body has been based in Dubai since 2005 [Reuters]

The International Cricket Council is being lobbied to make T10 an officially recognised format in the future.

Sources have told BBC Sport at least two full members are pushing for the ICC to consider granting List A status to T10 franchise domestic competitions.

The inclusion of the format would enable the statistics from sanctioned T10 leagues and tournaments organised by full members to be included in a player's official averages.

Discussions over the subject took place at the ICC's latest board meeting which is being held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 10 to 13 April.

The issue was not listed as an official item on the agenda at the meeting, presided over by ICC chair Jay Shah, but was brought up on an informal basis.

It was said to have gained little traction from the majority of those in attendance, but it is a topic which will be revisited should it garner further support.

The ICC is responsible for the classification of official cricket and since 2007 has been responsible for the definition of List A, which is the limited overs format of the sport.

Prior to 2007 the definition of List A matches and the application of the definition was overseen by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians.

When approached by BBC Sport the ICC declined to comment.

The first major T10 competition took place in December 2017 in the United Arab Emirates in what is now known as the Abu Dhabi T10.

The tournament has attracted some high-profile white-ball players since its inception and former England captain Jos Buttler participated in the 2024 edition.

West Indies, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have all staged domestic T10 tournaments.

A men's T10 franchise tournament in Scotland was supposed be held last August but was called off after it was not cleared by the ICC.

T10 has not been played at national team level by full member nations in either gender, but is seen as a valuable format for the growth and development of the game for those further down the ICC's rankings.

The European Cricket Network, founded by Australia-born ex-Germany player Daniel Weston, have organised tournaments for representative national sides with matches streamed online.

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