The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are contemplating about introducing the 10-over cricket competition to the English domestic game, as per a report published in ESPNCricinfo.

The report suggests that the meeting between high-level ECB officials and the owner of the inaugural T10 league have taken place in UAE in March.

Until now, there is no suggestion that T10 cricket is being discussed to replace the already existing plans for "The Hundred". However, considering the jam-packed domestic calendar that features first-class and 50-over format besides the planned continuation of the T20 Blast, the induction of a fifth format would certainly raise a plenty of questions.

The report also implies that the meeting, which took place in Dubai, may have been part of an ECB fact-finding mission, with the board keen to revive the game in the country from 2020 onwards. It also claims that neither the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) nor the ECB's own working party examining the future structure of the game has had any prior knowledge of the meeting.

The first ever T10 cricket league, administered by the Emirates Cricket Board, was held in Sharjah last December. Several English players had received the NOC to take part in the tournament including the skipper Eoin Morgan and swashbuckling opener Alex Hales.

Meanwhile, the ECB has been told to reconsider about the gimmick of a 10-ball over in their controversial new ‘Hundred’ competition, expected to be held in 2020. The players union have warned ECB by stating that the fast bowlers won’t be able to bowl a 10-ball over at full throttle.

Recent media reports claim that the concept could be tweaked to 20 five-ball overs, with the option of a single bowler completing ten balls in a row if the match situation warranted it.

(With inputs from ESPNCricinfo)