DUBAI, Feb 15: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced plans on Wednesday to stage a Twenty20 world championship in September 2007.

World cricket’s governing body also said it wanted to scrap the controversial super-sub rule in one-day internationals.

The two recommendations are subject to approval by the ICC executive board at a meeting in Dubai next month.

There has been an explosion of interest in professional Twenty20 cricket since it was launched in England in 2003.

In its first season, the short-game format attracted an overall attendance of 250,000 to the evening games between county sides. It was also formally included in the Australian interstate competition this season.

“We have already received bids from six to seven countries who are willing to play host to the (Twenty20) event,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told reporters.

Speed said the ICC planned to scrap the on-trial super-sub rule next month.

“We have recommended to the board the on-trial super-sub rule may be discontinued from March 21, 2006, since it has proved to be unpopular with the teams and hasn’t achieved the objective,” he said.—Reuters