By IANS,
London : English counties will not take part in the Champions League Twenty20 as the revised dates clash with the end of the English domestic season.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already shifted the county fixture list once to accommodate the Champions League, which was originally scheduled for early October. But the scheduling of a one-day series between India and Australia in October meant that the tournament was brought forward to Sep 10-26, which left the ECB with no room for manoeuvre.
In a memo circulated to the counties, the ECB said it was “with great regret” that the Friends Provident T20 finalists would be unable to participate.
The absence of the two counties means that they, and the ECB, will lose out heavily financially. The board was guaranteed just under 1 million pounds, while the counties stood to make between 120,000 and 1.5 million pounds, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The ECB said English clubs should be able to play in next year’s Champions League, which is due to start Sep 23, and the following year, when it is set for October.
Champions League is a lucrative competition for domestic Twenty20 winners from around the world.