Ageas Bowl: Venue looks forward to new T20 franchise despite Test match omission

Hampshire say they are disappointed to have missed out on being allocated any Test matches between 2020 and 2024 but are looking forward to hosting a new T20 franchise.

The Ageas Bowl was overlooked as a venue for Test, including one in the 2023 Ashes series, when the England and Wales Cricket Board's major match panel announced its allocations on Wednesday.

But, the 16,500-capacity ground near Southampton was selected as one of eight hosts for the new city-based T20 tournament from 2020.

"I think that's where the future of cricket is," Hampshire chief executive David Mann told BBC South Today.

"Commercially, getting a franchise was absolutely key for us from this announcement, so we're focusing on the positive."

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