Mumbai, May 25 (IANS): The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), scheduled to be held in South Africa Sep 10-26, will feature 10 teams, the governing council of CLT20 confirmed Monday.
Teams from India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies will compete in the tournament.
England counties have pulled out of the event because of clash of dates with their domestic competition.
Of the nine teams already qualified, just three will be returning from the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2009 - Royal Challengers Bangalore (India), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia) and Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka).
Only one place remains to be filled, with the West Indies' representative to be confirmed in late July. Trinidad and Tobago represented the Caribbean in 2009 and set the tournament alight with their brilliant run through to the final.
"There is no doubt that the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 has improved the quality of domestic Twenty20 cricket around the world and motivated teams in all countries to strive for a coveted place at the tournament," said N. Srinivasan, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa CEO, said the tournament will reinforce South Africa’s reputation as an ideal host for international sporting events.
"The CLT20 concept has also shown the potential for Twenty20 cricket to attract new, ever-increasing fans to the game and the associated benefits have subsequently flowed to domestic cricket around the globe," he said.
James Sutherland, Cricket Australia, CEO, said: "While the participation of international players is an obvious highlight, CLT20's ability to provide development opportunities for non-capped players is one of the most satisfying aspects of the tournament."
The tournament will see 23 matches with the tournament format, match schedule and venues to be decided in the coming weeks.
Nine of the 10 competing teams:
Chennai Super Kings (DLF Indian Premier League - India)
Mumbai Indians (DLF Indian Premier League - India)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (DLF Indian Premier League - India)
Victorian Bushrangers (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash - Australia)
South Australian Redbacks (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash - Australia)
Warriors (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series - South Africa)
Highveld Lions (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series - South Africa)
Central Stags (HRV Cup Twenty20 - New Zealand)
Wayamba Elevens (Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Cup - Sri Lanka)