The Commercial Cricket League is planning to scrap its current format and play only Twenty20 matches this season.

The idea is the brainchild of league president Barry Richards, who believes an overhaul is urgently needed in the face of dwindling support for the longer forms of the game and is inviting new clubs to come forward.

The league, set up more than 40 years ago, once boasted as many as ten teams but only four clubs finished last season.

Devonshire Stars dropped out halfway through while Forties, the league's oldest remaining team, now appear likely to throw in the towel as well after 30 years, leaving only Spring Garden Cavaliers, Jamaican Association and North Village.

In recent seasons a packed programme has seen teams play 42-overs-a-side league cricket, coupled with a 40-overs-a-side knockout and T20 tournament.

But Richards, a hard-hitting batsman who formerly played for Cavaliers, thinks the old set-up has run its course and is keen to drum up support for a T20 Sunday league.

"The reason for this relates to the steady decline of teams interested in playing the longer format of cricket in general," he said yesterday.

"We need to create a situation where retired players, or those who may be interested in this shorter format, want to come out in a family-oriented and fun environment."

Richards hopes to attract at least eight teams with all matches played at Shelly Bay.

He wants to create a league in the mould of the popular Evening Cricket League, which has been run for more than 20 years by Stephen West and currently boasts 16 teams in two divisions.

"This will create opportunity for persons who are interested, but cannot afford an eight-hour day, to come out for three hours on Sundays for a game," Richards said.

"As president of the Commercial League I have approached Stephen West to assist in creating the same type of situation for a Sunday league, and to bring association between the two leagues, creating the possibility of Evening League teams playing in the Sunday league as well."

With the start of the new season only a month away, Richards is keen to hear from clubs.

He can be contacted at bvr@transact.bm or by phone at 717-0751 or 705-0751.