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Published: Tuesday May 26, 2009 MYT 3:30:00 PM

Champions League to have regular slot, says Modi

NEW DELHI: A Champions League Twenty20 tournament featuring the top domestic teams from seven nations will become a sanctioned annual event on the ICC international schedule, organizer Lalit Modi said.

"I think Champions League has already been slotted in as part of the FTP (Future Tours Program)," Modi, an Indian cricket board vice president who is also chairman of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, said in an interview published on the IPL Web site.

The Champions League Twenty20, which will be held for the first time from Oct. 8-23 in India, is jointly owned by the national cricket boards of Australia, India and South Africa.

"We're working with all the member countries and the ICC, and we have together come out with the dates of the Champions League to benefit everybody," Modi said.

The first edition of the Champions League was postponed last year in the wake of terror attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai.

It had been scheduled to feature eight teams - two each from India, Australia and South Africa, and one each from England and Pakistan.

The tournament has now been expanded to 12 teams and includes the domestic champions from the West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, along with teams from India, Australia, South Africa and England.

India will have three teams in the competition, while Pakistan do not have a team included.

Representing India in the Champions League will be IPL finalists Deccan Chargers and Bangalore Royal Challengers, and the Delhi Daredevils - which finished atop the IPL standings at the end of the league stage.

Victoria and New South Wales states qualified from Australia, with the Cape Cobras and Eagles from South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago from the West Indies, Otago from New Zealand and Sri Lankan team Wayamba.

The two English teams will be decided after the domestic Twenty20 championship, which ends in August.

The tournament will offer $6 million in prize money with the draw to be held June 23 in London.

Modi said the Champions League Twenty20 was expected to be staged in a different country every year.

"We've always envisaged the movement of the Champions League from country to country, and to showcase the best of the best playing in different parts of the world," he said. - AP


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