The BCCI has said that it has no objection to inviting Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions to come and play in Champions League T20. The decision will be recommended to the tournament's governing body in their meeting on May 28.
The BCCI President, N Srinisvan told the reporters after the working committee's meeting in Chennai that "The Working Committee has decided to invite a team from Pakistan to play in Champions League Twenty20 to be held in October. CLT20 is owned by BCCI, Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa. So we will recommend to the Governing Council that the BCCI has no objection and is prepared to invite a Pakistan team in the Champions League."
"This matter came up in the Governing Council of the Champions League. There was discussion around the composition of the tournament this year and on the number of teams and who will be invited. A feeling was expressed that a team from Pakistan could be invited."
Pakistan is the only major test-playing nation that hasn't been included in the tournament since it's inauguration in 2009 despite PCB's requests. BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla said that they didn't get a green signal from the Indian government yet, but they felt that this was a good time to invite a team from Pakistan.
The Champions League is played between the domestic T20 winners from all the test-playing nations. Sialkot Stallions are the current and the 6th-time domestic T20 champions in Pakistan.
The Sialkot Regional Cricket Association had requested PCB last month to push for their inclusion in the CL T20. The PCB said that their participation was dependant on the resumption of the cricket ties between the two nations.
The Stallions were invited to play in the Champions League's inaugural edition near the end of 2008, but it was postponed due to the Mumbai attacks, which damaged the relationship between the two countries.
It is also hinted that the Pakistani players will be allowed to participate in IPL 6. Rajiv Shukla said that that also depended on the resumption of the bilateral ties.
GeoSuper