BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi has made it clear that the tournament would be played in India from September 29 to October 8 at three venues - Jaipur, New Delhi and Mohali.
LONDON: Unable to break the stand-off over Twenty20 Champions League with the ECB, BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi has made it clear that the tournament would be played in India from September 29 to October 8 at three venues - Jaipur, New Delhi and Mohali.
Modi also said England cricketers were unlikely to feature in the 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.
The details of the tournament, would be finalised in Mumbai on Wednesday at a meeting to be attended by officials from the BCCI, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) but England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will go unrepresented.
"We are going ahead with the tournament whether England joins up or not," Modi was quoted as saying by the 'cricinfo'.
"South Africa and Australia are fully on board with the various rules and regulations but the ECB is being unreasonable and continues to have objections to issues like the shareholding pattern and the governing structure. But we can't wait any longer and we are going ahead. It's now up to the ECB to decide whether it wants to join us or not," he said.
Modi's statement came after the English press reported that the ECB was finalising a "rival" Champions League, to be held in Abu Dhabi.
The Sunday Telegraph reported the ECB was involved in talks with the royal family of Abu Dhabi over a Champions League to be held there with 750m available over 10 years.
Modi said ECB "are welcome to do so" but made it clear that no Indian team would be a part of that tournament.
"There is no question of any Indian team participating in any other Champions League, whether it's organised by the ECB or anybody else.
"Anyway, we must not forget that it's the television revenue that decides the fate of such tournaments and it's very obvious where that is headed right now."
Modi said Pakistan would replace England in the Champions League, which was originally scheduled to feature top two Twenty20 domestic teams from India, Australia, South Africa and England.
"I can confirm that Pakistan will send a team because even if the ECB joins us, only one team from England can participate, which is Middlesex," Modi said.
"As for New Zealand, Sri Lanka, or even West Indies, they will all be taking part from next year, when we expand to 12 teams. One of them will send the eighth team this year, if the ECB stays away and refuses to send even Middlesex."
Kent, another finalist of England's domestic Twenty20 tournament, has players affiliated to the ICL and will not be invited, Modi said.
"Kent will not be invited but we will be happy to welcome Middlesex. But for that to happen, the ECB has to take a final call," Modi said.
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