Stallions deserved to play in Champions League: Butt

Karachi:

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt Thursday said he was disappointed after the country's domestic Twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions were ignored for the third successive time for the Champions League.

Butt said since the tournament is scheduled in South Africa, it was a good chance to include the Pakistani side in the event to be held in September.

"It is disappointing for us and fans in Pakistan, Stallions deserved to play in the tournament of champions," he said.

Butt, however, played down impression that he barred the side from competing in the Champions League. He instead felt the Indian Premier League (IPL) crisis may have triggered the organisers to go with the same pool of teams that participated in the last year's Champions League.

"PCB has a policy not to bar any player or team from competing in offshore events until and unless it clashes with any national team's assignment," he said.

Butt, however, said he wants friendly relations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is ready to send the national team to India to improve the cricketing ties between the two countries.

"We want friendly relations with Indian cricket board and for the purpose we are ready to send Pakistan team to India," he said.

The chairman said if the BCCI is not comfortable hosting Pakistan then the PCB is also ready to play series against the traditional rivals on a neutral venue.

"We are ready to play against India on a neutral venue, what's important is that the two countries must resume the cricketing ties", Butt said.