Pete Steindl has welcomed plans for a revamped CB40 tournament.

ECB officials last night announced that the competition will be expanded to a 50-over format from 2014 bringing it in line with international cricket.

Sides will play a maximum of eight group matches in the new one-day tournament compared to the twelve currently undertaken.

Bosses have yet to agree on the precise structure but are likely to replace the existing three groups of seven teams with four groups of five teams playing home and away.

Scotland and the Netherlands are likely to retain their places along with the eighteen First Class counties with the Unicorns � a team of unattached professionals � favourites to drop out.

Steindl said: �I�m aware of the plans to introduce a CB50 and naturally we would hope to be a part of it.

�We enjoy regular competition against the counties and the tournament forms an important part of our annual programme.

�Increasing it to 50 overs makes sense from everyone�s point of view. That�s what we play when we enter the international arena.�