ICL players face Twenty20 Champions League ban

(GETTY IMAGES)

English teams that succeed in qualifying for the multimillion-dollar Twenty20 Champions League must leave out any players who participated in the non-sanctioned Indian Cricket League or be barred from the September to October competition, Indian officials said yesterday.

The Champions League will feature provincial champions and runners-up from Australia, South Africa, India and England. Lalit Modi, a vice-president of the Indian cricket board, told reporters the cricket boards of these four confirmed nations had agreed to send teams – minus ICL participants – for the Twenty20 Champions League and the contracts will be formalised next week in Dubai during the annual meeting of international cricket officials.

Marcus Trescothick did his side's hopes of being at the Champions League no harm at all with a 53-ball century that led Somerset to a 67-run Twenty20 Cup win over Worcestershire at Taunton yesterday. The former England opener hit 15 fours and three sixes in his 107, receiving good support from Ian Blackwell (32) and Craig Kieswetter (28) in a score of 212 for 8. Kabir Ali took 4 for 44.

In reply, the Royals crashed to 25 for 4 and were never in contention. Stephen Moore top-scored with 38 in a total of 145 all out, with left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah claiming three for 36.

Trescothick took charge after his opening partner Justin Langer fell to the first ball of the match. He took 20 off the fourth over, sent down by the former England bowler Simon Jones, with two fours and two sixes.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff continued his recovery from a side strain with two catches and 13 off nine balls before he was bowled by Rob Ferley in Lancashire's five-wicket win over Nottinghamshire.

The former Nottinghamshire trialist Francois Du Plessis returned to haunt his old side with an unbeaten 57 for Lancashire. The 23-year-old South African, who turned down a contract with Notts two years ago to pursue an international career before signing as a Kolpak at Old Trafford last winter, hit seven fours and a six in his 37-ball innings.

The hosts' total of 151 for 7 was built around 51 from overseas batsman Adam Voges, with the 28-year-old hitting six fours from 42 balls.

On a slow, turning pitch, the Nottinghamshire batsmen struggled to time the ball for much of their innings and were thankful to Voges for helping them to achieve a half decent total.

Despite the valiant efforts of Shaun Udal, Middlesex Crusaders lost their second successive match in the Twenty20 Cup, going down by six runs to the Hampshire Hawks at Richmond.

Udal scored a brilliant 40 from 20 balls with a four and four sixes after coming to the wicket with Middlesex in trouble on 65 for 6 after both Nantie Hayward (3 for 22) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (3 for 12) shared the wickets.

Andrew Strauss made 25 for Middlesex.