Players called up for international cricket can now be replaced under new contracting rules for next summer’s Big Bash Twenty20 competition.

A review of current contracting rules has approved a move to allow teams to draft in a replacement player if a contracted squad member is called up to a national team during the competition.

The player can then return to the squad when his international commitments end at the expense of the replacement player.

The rule is similar to one introduced for last summer’s competition where injured players could be replaced and return to a squad after recovering.

In previous years if an injured player was replaced in a squad his tournament was over regardless of the severity of his injury.

It will also apply during finals matches.

The decision will help teams featuring multiple international players and also avoid disadvantaging those who lose a player unexpectedly to international commitments.

“We want fans to be able to watch the best available players, so it’s important the rules encourage clubs to continue to contract players who may have national commitments over the summer,” Cricket Australia general manager Mike McKenna said.

“This rule change will minimise the impact on clubs for the period of time that their players are with the Australian team.”

The other major changes include the creation of a second trade week where franchises can trade or transfer contracted players in November and a slight increase to the salary cap from $1.05 million per team to $1.2 million.

The eight Big Bash League franchises can begin contracting players from May 19 and must have 10 players on their books by July 19.

The full 18-man squads must be submitted to Cricket Australia by December 5.