The T20 Blast's "absolutely ludicrous" scheduling will see all four teams involved in Saturday's Finals Day missing key players for the showpiece occasion of the county calendar.

Now in its 23rd season, the Blast is the oldest professional T20 competition in the world, but also the longest. The 2025 edition started in late May and will finally come to an end more than 15 weeks later at Edgbaston on Saturday, with Lancashire playing Somerset in the first semi-final, Northamptonshire facing Hampshire in the second, and the final rounding out the day.

Counties have chosen to stage the Blast's knockout stages in September for the last two seasons, given that a long gap after the group stage - during which the Hundred takes place - allows them more time to sell tickets for the quarter-finals.

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