The provinces have a small short-term victory yesterday as an England and Wales

But sources indicated that a change in the structure of the country in time for summer 2012 with the largest drop ever in cricket championship is an important option.

A meeting at Lord's on Tuesday decided to keep the status quo, under pressure from smaller countries who believe that reducing the number of Twenty20 games seriously affected their finances. The provinces were desperate for the ECB, the scheduling problem so they can take their marketing campaign for next summer before Christmas.

This increased dissatisfaction with the lack of leadership demonstrated by the ECB over the country calendar, a problem that was clearly identifiable for months, although the separation between the counties automatically delay the process. The schedule for the country was blamed for poor financial performance by most countries last season, but they hope the lack of a World Cup and neutral Test series in 2011 will be an easier sell to the public. Under pressure to the Executive Council of the ECB is expected to accelerate the structure next year a sanction in the next week while work is part of the proposals for a product of new-look County.

Both franchises suspended from the Indian Premier League last week, owes their English players, but the assurance of their contracts will be honored. Rajasthan Royals to Michael Lumb and Dimitri Mascarenhas Hampshire on their payroll, said yesterday in a statement confirming that the third installment of the contract must still be paid. The Royals and Kings XI Punjab, which employs Ravi Bopara last summer, the fight against the decision to deny them the status of the IPL. Both franchises claim to be owed up to $ 8 million (about £ 5 million) by the Indian board, whose payment will be sued.

 
"We take this opportunity to say that we have personally talked to all the players to inform them of the situation regarding payments," said a statement from the royal family. "Each player was given the assurance that we all honor our commitments to them and we have many messages of support from our team all comfortable with how we manage the situation. "We would also like to say that we are still waiting for money in circulation amounting to R 40 crore to (8 million) due to us by the BCCI under the franchise agreement in seasons two and three.


"We are informed that other franchises have their contributions paid for the time and we so far had no communication from the BCCI or explanation of the delay was caused, despite our written requests payment for a long time." Somerset had further strengthened their bowling attack for next season by signing the Gloucestershire seamer Pumping Hussain on a three-year contract.

The 27-year-old was recruited cricket club Derby at the start of the 2009 season and has 67 wickets in his first full season of county cricket championship at the pre-wicket taker in the second section. But Hussain rejected the offer of Gloucester, a new contract earlier this month and decided to take a team to join the first division. It's official approaches the new Nottinghamshire County Champions and New Hampshire, but chose paceman Steve Kirby to follow from Bristol to Taunton.

"Pumping a great year and we are delighted to have him signed," said Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose. "It means we have quality and depth to our seam bowling department." Hussain is the fourth player to leave voluntarily following Gloucestershire Kirby, former Zimbabwe seamer Anthony Ireland, at Middlesex and drummer Will Porterfield, who joined Warwick. Gloucester are also in negotiation with three players contract, Kadeer Ali and drummer Rob Woodman, and reserve wicketkeeper Steve Snell can also see leave by mutual consent.