ECB "disappointed" by Kent's omission from Champions League
Rob Key's side have been denied the chance to play in the Champions League
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Saturday, 02, Aug 2008 10:38
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have expressed their disappointment that Kent have been barred from entering the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League.
The Spitfires were the runner-up in this year's domestic competition but only the winners Middlesex have received approval from the event's organisers.
Kent's omission is due to them having used players who competed in the Indian Cricket League, a rival of the Indian Premier League, a competition that did not get ICC approval.
The Spitfires offered to leave out their ICL players when taking part in the Champions League but this did not satisfy the organisers.
India, Australia and South Africa are the founders of the Champions League tournament and Cricket Australia wrote to the ECB informing them Kent would not be allowed to take part.
The original format of the competition was to have two teams from England, Pakistan, India, Australia and South Africa but there will now only be nine teams in the tournament as the founders have rejected Essex as well.
A statement from the ECB said: "Both the ECB and Kent are bitterly disappointed at this stance as Kent had offered various solutions aimed at overcoming the objections of the organisers, such as not to include players who had taken part in unauthorised cricket in their squad.
"With Kent's full knowledge the ECB offered Essex as an alternative county to play in the Champions League as Essex were beaten by Kent in the Twenty20 Cup semi-final. However, this suggestion was also rejected by the organisers."
The Champions League which will be held from September 29th and October 8th in Jaipur, Delhi and Mohali.