London:England's First-Class Counties have agreed to play both red-ball and white-ball cricket during this summer's shortened men's domestic season, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday.
Earlier, the ECB Board had also approved the return to training of Men's first-class county players on or before July 1.
"A majority vote was reached at a meeting of the FCC chairs today following approval by the ECB Board last month for the new season to commence on 1 August," the ECB said in an official statement.
The agreement will now be passed on for approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), after which a new fixture schedule will be drawn up and announced.
"Today's agreement by the FCCs will be passed on for ECB Board approval in the coming days after which the details of the new fixture schedule will be drawn up and then announced," it added.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) The First-Class Counties will undergo medical risk assessments and venue compliance approval to ensure safe environments for the start of the men's domestic season.
Last week, the apex body of cricket in England had allowed counties to have two overseas players per side in all county competitions from the next season.
The ECB insists health matters are of paramount importance and says counties will face further assessments to ensure it is safe for play to resume.
“The safety and wellbeing of all players, staff and officials remain the priority of the ECB,” read a statement.
“All first-class counties will undergo further medical risk assessments and venue compliance approval as planning progresses to ensure safe environments for the start of the men’s domestic season.”
The men’s County Championship was initially scheduled to start on April 12.
