KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received an invitation from India for October’s Twenty20 Champions League, in a step towards reviving cricket ties between the archrivals that have been suspended since 2008.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last month gave the go ahead to include Pakistan’s Twenty20 champions in the multi-nation league, which brings together 10 top teams, including those from India, Australia and South Africa.
“We confirm that an invitation has been received from the Champions League Twenty20, inviting the winners of Pakistan Twenty20 event to participate in the qualifying tournament,” said a statement issued by the PCB. “The invitation will be discussed in the PCB’s Executive Coordination Committee meeting on Wednesday.”
The PCB last month called the invitation ‘the first step towards reviving cricketing ties between the two countries’. The main league will be held from October 9-28 in South Africa, with qualifying rounds taking place before the main event.
The Stallions won the domestic Twenty20 event in Pakistan earlier this year. They were due to feature in the inaugural Champions League in 2009 but were not invited after India severed bilateral relations with Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attacks on Mumbai.
Pakistan expects a breakthrough in relations later this year but the BCCI said the Indian team’s hectic schedule is the main hurdle in arranging any series in the near future.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
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@Nono: I think you are new to cricket or are insane in your observations! 2 teams from India, Australia and SouthAfrica have got Direct Entries; Teams from England, Westindies and Pakistan have to go through the qualifying phase! Its people like you with zero knowledge of the sport which acts as sole embarassment for this nation.
All pakistanis should opPose the participatiOn of their team into CL. Afterall how can they forget the insult mEted to them by the Indians. They should protest and let India suffer and long for ages before pak team cud b a part of IPL or CL.
@Roger: Get your homework right. All teams will be in the qualifying round for the finals. Embarrassing!
@Roger: Oh!!! You mean Stallions should have allowed to be played straight away in the final match of the Champions League because they are a Pakistani team and local champs.... Oh!!!!! The world does so much of injustice to Pakistan!!
haha what joke from BCCI; champions would be playing in the qualifying phase instead of geting a direct route to the main round! ridiculous