Friday, December 5, 2008

Middlesex wait on Indian summit

By Oliver Brett

Shaun Udal and Vinny Codrington
Middlesex captain Shaun Udal and chief executive Vinny Codrington

Middlesex will hear new proposals for the postponed Champions League cricket tournament in India following a conference call on 12 December.

The eight-day competition, with eight teams including the English side, would have finished on 10 December, but the Mumbai terror attacks forced a rethink.

Champions League spokesman Javed Akhtar told BBC Sport: "There will be increased security at all levels.

"I think the teams will have no issues since England are returning to India."

The 12 December summit will feature officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, plus representatives from Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa.

Pakistan and England also have teams in the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 tournament, they will not be consulted until after the meeting as they are not founding board members.

However, Middlesex - who qualified for the competition by winning English cricket's domestic Twenty20 Cup in July - are optimistic they will be able to travel to India.

The club's chief executive Vinny Codrington told BBC London: "We will liaise closely with the ECB in relation to the security side of things. The lads, all things being equal, will be very keen to go back.

"Clearly we have to go through the same due diligence that the England management have done with the England players.

"But in their heart of hearts the players will want to go back and prove that they can compete against the best."

Akhtar said he was hopeful the positive intent shown by Kevin Pietersen's England squad to return to India for two Tests before Christmas would boost confidence among other teams scheduled to play cricket in the country.

606: DEBATE
BBC Sport's Oliver Brett
"They should not worry, and because England are prepared to come back here so soon that will inspire them to do the same," he said.

"England did a fantastic thing by deciding to come. It's good for the game, it's good for India and good for cricket."

Reports have suggested a re-organised tournament could begin in the third week of January, but Akhtar said it was "premature to talk about" revised dates.

"That is one of the things to be decided on 12 December, along with the issue of whether the same venues will continue to be used," he added.

Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai were the three original venues.

Middlesex's players are employed on 12-month contracts, so should be available on most revised dates.


Competing teams at the Champions League: Rajasthan Royals (Ind), Chennai Super Kings (Ind), Victoria Bushrangers (Aus), Western Warriors (Aus), Dolphins (SA), Titans (SA), Sialkot Stallions (Pkn), Middlesex Crusaders.

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