Cricketers' Association backs the Champions League

The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has backed the proposed Twenty20 Champions League but voiced concerns that the competition might increase players' workloads. Paul Marsh, the ACA's chief executive, said the tournament would provide terrific opportunities for state cricketers.

"But it would be very difficult for us to support a situation where Australian players who have already got very, very hectic workloads would be obligated to play in this September-October event on top of their current workloads," Marsh told the Age. The Champions League is an international Twenty20 competition featuring the top two domestic teams from India, England, Australia and South Africa.

Modelled on the system of franchises used by the American NFL and NBA, the league will be run by the boards of the four countries and the first tournament is scheduled for October 2008. Each franchise will pay a fee to the BCCI, which will give it access to shared revenues and the right to exploit exclusive revenue. There will also be a draft, similar to the one used in the US, which will allow the buying and selling of players.

Marsh said the ACA had begun discussions with Cricket Australia about all aspects of the competition and wanted to find out more about trading of players and about Australian internationals who may play for their states in the tournament. "We are not saying we are for or against it, we just want to find out more information," Marsh said.

"As it stands, those states [which qualify for the Champions League] could pull in their Australian players if they were available. There is talk that they may have some international players in there as well, so the states will be able to chase whoever it may be from another country to come and play for their state."

Meanwhile Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Association, has welcomed the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is also a Twenty20 league - though not recognised by the ICC or the national boards - backed by the Essel group in India.

May said the league was a challenge to the establishment. "What that means for players is that we've got a buyer in the market now," May said in the Sun-Herald. "There's no longer a monopoly and a false market which used to be owned by authorities such as the ICC and the national bodies.

"The governing bodies - and you can't blame them - are trying to dissuade the players by legal means or otherwise, from joining the ICL. At the same time, they are looking at themselves and asking 'How can we make ourselves more competitive?' I don't think that's a bad thing."