A Southern Hemisphere, IPL-style Twenty20 competition is being explored by New Zealand Cricket along with Australia and South Africa.
New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan says they're discussing the development of a regional Twenty20 contest built on city-based, franchise-owned teams by 2011.
He says while planning is still in its early stages, the format would see a number of franchises in an Africa-centred eastern conference and a similar western conference with an Australasian focus.
The top teams from each conference would then meet in the finals.
Timing would complement the Indian Premier League competition and allow Indian players to participate.
Vaughan says the success of the IPL shows there's a demand for regional Twenty20 competitions played at a level immediately below international cricket.
