India, Australia and South Africa will play in the first-ever Twenty20 “super series”, which is proposed to be held next year in two of those countries.

As the first non-ICC multilateral tournament involving national teams, this event will mark a paradigm shift for the sport’s newest format but it faces several hurdles such as finding a window in an already crowded calendar, and negotiating the ICC ruling that allows a maximum of seven Twenty20 matches a year.

“It will be somewhat similar to the Tri-Nations rugby series,” Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), told Cricinfo. “It will be happening next year, and the matches will be held in South Africa and Australia.”

However, organisers are yet to finalise a window for the tournament next year, he said.

The Tri-Nations rugby Cup is an annual tournament featuring South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, which was first contested in 1996. The competition is organised by a consortium formed by rugby’s governing bodies in the three countries. The 2008 event involved nine matches with each country getting three home games.

Majola said the proposed Twenty20 series - which was finalised during discussions in Dubai recently on the sidelines of the ICC meeting of chief executives - will have a distinct identity of its own. “At this point of time, we are confident that it will take place but we haven’t finalized venues, details of the prize money or sponsorship,” he said.

The international calendar for next year is already packed with the Ashes and the World Twenty20 in England. These will be followed by the Champions Twenty20 League, and a one-day series between India and Australia. Space is yet to be found for the postponed Champions Trophy as well.