Six wickets each and fans voting for free hits: New 60-ball tournament launched in the Caribbean

The 6ixty will have its inaugural run between August 24 and August 28 this year, just prior to the new CPL campaign, with the six men's CPL sides and three women's teams taking part

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A new 60-ball tournament in which fans can vote for the timing of free hits and early sixes unlock an additional powerplay over has been launched by Cricket West Indies and the Caribbean Premier League.

The 6ixty will have its inaugural run between August 24 and August 28 this year, just prior to the new CPL campaign, with the six men's CPL sides and three women's teams taking part. 

It is the latest in a series of attempts by governing bodies and cricket authorities around the world to attract new eyeballs and generate fresh revenue from the sport.

Sixty-ball cricket already exists elsewhere - the Abu Dhabi T10 League has been running for five seasons - but The 6ixty's intriguing rules twist the sport in an even more unconventional way.

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Each team will only have six wickets, and powerplay fielding restrictions will only apply for the first two overs of an innings. However, should the batting side hit two sixes in the first 12 balls, they will be able to activate an additional powerplay over any time up until the final over of the innings.

The notion of swapping ends between overs - which remain six balls long - has been stripped out. Teams will bowl 30 deliveries from one end, then another 30 from the other.

And, if a bowling side's over rate falls behind and an allocation is not completed inside 45 minutes, a fielder will be removed for the final over of the innings.

It is the fan vote for a random free hit which is the biggest departure from existing cricket competitions, however. 

In the new competition's mission statement, posted on its website, there is an expressed intention to market The 6ixty as an exportable product which can be staged around the world. 

The timing of the tournament, which clashes with the second half of The Hundred, may spook ECB figures. There are several prominent West Indian players signed up in the top pay brackets of Hundred teams for 2022 - Kieron Pollard at London Spirit, Andre Russell at Manchester Originals, Sunil Narine at Oval Invincibles, and Dwayne Bravo at Northern Superchargers among them.

Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews are part of the women's Hundred, but would be a key part of The 6ixty's launch, too.

The Cricketer understands 6ixty organisers expect the majority of Caribbean stars to fly to St Kitts to be part of the new tournament.

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Caribbean cricket fans have a new format for 2022 [Getty Images]

The 2022 6ixty will take place at Warner Park on St Kitts. 

Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies president, said: "The 6ixty has come about because of a close collaboration between CPL and CWI which is the way forward. I am really excited about the innovation, excitement and entertainment that it is going to bring to the fans."

Pete Russell, CPL CEO, said: "This is a hugely exciting moment for both CPL and Cricket West Indies as we create a tournament that will see cricket fans brought closer to the game.

"There will be world-class men's and women's cricketers taking part in a fantastic event for the Caribbean and this combined with cutting-edge innovations, signals a great moment for all fans of West Indian cricket."

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