US Cricket Council planning T20 tourney

KARACHI: The Cricket Council of the United States is planning to hold a Twenty20 tournament, pitting club teams from North America and countries like India and Pakistan against each other from April 4 to 12 next year.
    
The USD 100,000 tournament would be held in South Florida and will be contested by 48 teams.
    
The organisers have said that top club teams from Sri Lanka, Ireland, Australia, West Indies and United Arab Emirates will also compete in the tournament.
    
The organisers have also invited clubs from the US states of California, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia and Florida and neighboring Canada in the nine-day contest.
    
"We are delighted by the response of the cricket community to the US T20. I envision a cricket festival atmosphere where cricketers can engage each other in competition and friendship," Chairman and CEO of Cricket Council USA Maq Qureshi said in a statement.
    
However, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said the PCB has not given clearance to any national club to take part in the event.
    
"The approval of the board would be necessary for players to get visas for the event," one source said.