Snub by Champions League irate PCB chief

Karachi:

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ejaz Butt is upset at the snub given to Pakistan by the Champions League organisers but said the Board won't stop Shahid Afridi to play for South Australia in the T20 extravaganza.

After being ignored at Mumbai IPL auction early this year, Butt had said that Pakistan would not send its players for future IPL events or the Champions League but contends since the league was being held in South Africa the organisers could have invited them.

"I am disappointed because the tournament is being held in South Africa and it would have been possible for us to send our team. As it is I think our domestic champions Sialkot Stallions deserve a chance to compete against the best T20 sides from other countries as well," Butt said.

Butt insisted that the Board had never stopped the domestic champions from taking part in the Champions League.

"Maybe the recent happenings in the IPL are the reason they have not invited the Sialkot team once again," Butt said.

The organisers also did not invite the Pakistani champions for the first edition of the Champions League held in India last year.

Butt also said if Afridi was required to play for South Australia in the Champions League in September, the Board would give him permission to play in the tournament if he didn't have any national commitments.

The PCB chief said despite strained relations between the two nations, they were ready for a bilateral series against India.

"But we still want friendly and cordial relations with the Indian Cricket Board and we are ready to send our team to India if they agree to play a series with us," he said.

"We are even ready to play a bilateral series against India at neutral venues and we are still waiting for a positive response from them," Butt added.