Hampshire embrace Royalty

Rajasthan Royals chief executive Sean Morris, coach and captain Shane Warne, plus chairman Manoj Badale unveil the new Rajasthan Royals global franchise at Lord's today

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Hampshire have agreed to join Rajasthan Royals’ ambitious global franchise and have been included in plans for a Twenty20 tournament ‘festival’ that would add games to their fixture list this summer.

Cape Cobras from South Africa, Australian state Victoria along with Trinidad & Tobago are also finalising negotiations to become part of the network of clubs under the Royals2020 umbrella.

With naming rights being bought, Hampshire will no longer be known as the Hawks and it is understood there have been talks with Worcestershire about the potential of there being two ‘Royals’ in England.

Other key parts of the deal include clubs wearing the same strip as Rajasthan for Twenty20 matches and players being allowed to move to other Royals teams if domestic rules allow.

Other counties have previously played matches outside the traditional domestic calendar but the plans for a ‘festival’ of cricket at different venues around the world, starting with England in July, is expected to raise concerns about player burn-out.

The current proposals are for the Royals2020 teams to compete in a round-robin section followed by a final in a tournament that would be spread over three days.

Rajasthan Royals chief executive Sean Morris: “We will be playing in the UK in July, hopefully at Lord’s, and developing plans to play in South Africa and Australia over the Christmas period and then in 2011 in the Middle East and Jaipur.”

The ECB has yet to receive full details about the proposals and Royals2020 chairman Manoj Badale admits there is potential for conflict regarding the fixture build-up, given they expect financial benefits of the franchise to attract players to their clubs.

“Our regulating body is the Indian Premier League and there has been a lot of dialogue,” said the co-founder of the Indian Premier League side.

“There is nothing that we’re doing that doesn’t sit within the existing domestic guidelines or rules and regulations.

Former Hampshire skipper Shane Warne, third right, said: "It will give the players the opportunity to share their knowledge"

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“In terms of sharing players that will be in line with the rules of the country.”

Rajasthan coach and captain Shane Warne sees plenty of benefits for the players involved.

“It will give the players the opportunity to share their knowledge,” said the former Australia leg-spinner.

“We’re hoping to do a festival later on the year in Australia or South Africa.”