Quote: "It's frustrating for the players and the fans that we don't have a competition like the IPL," Buttler said. "It feels as if our domestic players are missing out. After all, we did create Twenty20, but we've not taken it on.

"Our teams don't have to have different names, but we should have fewer teams, and go with a Big Bash-style tournament. And if you hold it as a block, you're going to attract the best players."

His sentiments were echoed by two men who have ruled the world in T20 cricket - Sammy, who captained West Indies to victory in both the 2012 and, most recently, the 2016 World T20, when England were beaten in a thrilling final in Kolkata, and Afridi, who was Man of the Match when Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the 2009 World T20 final at Lord's.

"It's a difficult tournament, at least three months, it's long," Sammy told ESPNcricinfo. "It can be frustrating playing one or two games every weekend. It's Twenty20, you've got to be playing it fast.

Sammy and Afridi both played in Hampshire's double-header over the recent weekend, at home against Kent and then away against Glamorgan, but their next outing will be a trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, leaving a lot of down-time for the players to fill.

"I want my six-pack again," Sammy joked. "I am probably going to have a set schedule to do some gym. Most of the time the first team is away during the week, so I'll get some training in with the second team. I'll probably visit London with my family, and get some net practice in."

"England is my second home, I always enjoy my cricket here," added Afridi. "But I've already talked to a few officials, that we should organise it and finish it in a month. It's not easy playing one game then a four-day game then another T20, but as a professional cricketer you can adjust yourself."