India Rejects Ecb’s Rival Event
The political games surrounding the proposed cricket Twenty20 Champions League later this year have become more convoluted after media reports revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had rejected an invitation from its English counterpart to join an opposing tournament.
With the ECB opposing the rules and regulations set down in the Indian-run Champions League, English cricket chiefs have moved to launch their own competition.
The ECB have held talks with the Abu Dhabi royal family about bankrolling their tournament, with plans to play matches in the UAE capital and the adjoining emirate of Sharjah.
The competition will be played between 29th September and 8th October – the same dates as planned by the BCCI’s competition.
Both the BCCI and the ECB claim to have the support of teams from Australia and South Africa – however details of where allegiances lie are unclear.
A meeting has been scheduled for this week in Mumbai where the BCCI is hoping to finalise details of their tournament.
The ECB have confirmed they would not be travelling to the meeting, opting instead to focus on their own competition.
And the BCCI are also remaining defiant, choosing to reject the chance to join the ECB tournament.
Reports have claimed the Indian board have sent a letter to the ECB, saying it ‘wished the ECB all the best’ with their tournament but ‘unfortunately, we cannot accept’ the invitation.
The ECB are unhappy that the BCCI will not allow an equal share of the tournament between the boards, while it wants an amnesty for sides that have Indian Cricket League contracted players in their squads.
The proposed Indian-run Twenty20 Champions League was to feature the top 2 domestic sides from England, India, South Africa and Australia.
Kent, who qualified after finishing runners-up in the domestic Twenty20 Cup finals, have two ICL players in their ranks – Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood – so would be barred from taking part in the Indian-run Champions League.
The new reports come only a day after the ECB stated it was ‘confident’ that its counties would feature in the Indian-run Champions League.
