BCCI not to participate in ECB T20 league
Last Updated on
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 13:48
IST
Mumbai, July 29:
Zeecric Bureau Just a day after BCCI Vice-president Lalit Modi confirmed that India will hold the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 Champions League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly turned down an invitation from the England Cricket Board (ECB) to participate in it’s version of the slam bang cricket tournament to be held later this year in Sharjah.
The BCCI rejected ECB chief David Collier’s invitation, saying that although it would not be able to participate, it wished the ECB all the best for the event.
BCCI’s refusal to participate in the tournament wasn’t unexpected as it is being seen as a rival to its own version of the Twenty20 tournament, the dates and venues for which have already been announced and further details would be finalised in a board meeting to be held here on Wednesday.
Another reason for the non-acceptance of the offer is that the tournament will take place at Sharjah, a venue black listed by the Indian government after match fixing allegations.
Modi has also reportedly informed all the IPL franchisees that they were only allowed to take part in tournaments organised by the BCCI, blocking any possibility of a team from India participating in the ECB league.
Collier was earlier quoted as saying by a channel, “I would be bitterly disappointed if all four nations aren`t represented by their two top teams. We will be discussing with our counterparts in Australia, South Africa and India to try to iron out the last few items within the rules and regulations."
Earlier, Modi said that England cricketers were unlikely to feature in its T20 tournament as their Board was unreasonably objecting to various rules and regulations, the ban on ICL players, the share-holding pattern and profit-sharing formula.
With England participation in doubt, Pakistan has been convinced to replace them in the League, which was originally scheduled to feature top two Twenty20 domestic teams from India, Australia, South Africa and England.