Pakistan may join CL

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf has suggested that a team from the Asian nation will take part in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 competition.

His comments run contrary to the statement released by the ECB last week which stated that the top two teams from domestic leagues four countries - India, England, South Africa and Australia - will compete in the Champions League.

But Ashraf said it would be wrong to rule out a team from Pakistan.

"It is incorrect to say Pakistan is not in the Champions League," Ashraf said.

"I was present when the idea of this event was first discussed in Mumbai. The Indian Board, specifically the IPL governing body, invited Pakistan to send a team for the championship."

Ashraf said he would discuss the matter with officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India whom he will be meeting in Dhaka during the Tri-Series final on Saturday.

Meanwhile, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has reiterated that teams who have players linked to the rebel ICL would be barred from the Champions League.

"We are very clear on that," Modi said.

"It's not enough if teams merely drop players who had links to the ICL. Only teams who have absolutely no links to ICL players will be invited."

However, Modi indicated that only an 'in-principle' agreement was reached with the ECB and that nothing had been made final as yet.

Cricket Australia have been entrusted with the task of drawing up rules for the competition.