The England and Wales Cricket Board has blocked plans to hold the final of a T20 tournament for European nations at Lord’s.

Discussions to create an annual ‘Euro Nations Cup’ in both men’s and women’s football began earlier this year.

Cricket boards in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands are developing the concept and hoped to be able to play it early next summer.

Sources told BBC Sport that Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) supports the idea of ​​helping to grow European cricket and was keen to make Lord’s available.

It was hoped that Sir Paul Getty’s ground in Wormsley, with whom the MCC has a strategic partnership, could also be used to host matches.

However, the ECB is understood to have indicated that it would not sign the organizing agreement required for an international T20 tournament to be held within its jurisdiction.

One source said the ECB feared negative reactions from counties over international cricket taking place in England at the same time as the domestic season.

Earlier this year, organizers were positive about the ECB’s involvement and were optimistic that England would be able to take part in the tournament.

But in March, ECB chief executive Richard Gould cited complications in fitting the event around England’s existing international commitments.

The ECB declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport.