Champions League schedule to clash with English domestic season

Champions League schedule to clash with English domestic seasonLalit Modi, the commissioner of Champions League has said on Thursday that the schedule of the Champions League will clash with the English domestic season this year.

He has asked the English side to adjust their schedule so that they could take part in the tournament. The Champions League feature top Twenty20 club sides from around the world and it will be held from September 10-26.

The venue for the tournament is yet to be decided. Its schedule is clashing with the end of the domestic English season and also with a one-day series between England and Pakistan.

Mr. Modi has said that he expects the England Cricket Board (ECB) to make minor adjustments so that they will be able to participate in the six-million dollar event. He said that he had consulted the ECB over the dates of the tournament while international commitments were also considered.

"We will always endeavour to accommodate all countries as far as possible, and the League's governing council looked at all possibilities and decided that these were the only dates," He said.

The tournament is organized jointly by the Cricket boards of India, Australia and South Africa and other countries participate on an invitation. Many expect the tournament to be held in South Africa this year.

In 2009, three club teams from India, two each from Australia, South Africa and England and one each from New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies participated in the first edition of the tournament organized in India.

The tournament title went to the New South Wales from Australia. The tournament had prize money of 2.5 million dollars for the winners.