Middlesex Clarify Champs League Stance

Strauss - particiaption in doubt?

Middlesex chief executive Vinny Codrington has moved to clarify the county's stance on their international players participating in the Champions League later in the year.

Codrington has described an article in The Daily Telegraph which stated that Middlesex felt "they have been penalised by the organisers of the Champions League and the England and Wales Cricket Board" with regards to player selection as being misleading.

Middlesex will be unable to select Neil Dexter and Neil Carter for the tournament, as the duo were not part of the Middlesex squad that one the Twenty20 Cup through which Middlesex gained qualification for the tournament.

Added to the pair, Codrington indicated that England internationals Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah would most likely be unavailable.

"Chennai, for example, have got four internationals while it doesn't look like England are going to release Shah and Strauss, so we have look at alternatives and we do feel penalised," Codrington, told the Daily Telegraph

"We are also only allowed one overseas player while Chennai can pick Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey and Muttiah Muralitharan so we are starting behind the eight-ball," he added.

The Middlesex chief has since looked to clarify the statements.

"We have had meetings with the ECB and the Professional Cricketers Association regarding Andrew Strauss, Owais Shah and the Twenty20 Champions League," said Codrington.

"Both organisations have been extremely helpful and supportive.

"We perfectly understand the situation regarding Andrew and Owais, as the players do themselves.

"We would never stand in the way of a player's career, and if the ECB feel unable to release either or both of them, then we also understand that the Indian Test series takes precedence.

"We are working alongside the ECB and the PCA and are in complete agreement with the way forward."

"The Champions League agreement states that the sides competing must reflect the side that won the domestic competition.

"If England requires Shah and/or Strauss, we would be without three players from the side that won because Dirk Nannes is required by Victoria.

"The Indian Premier League sides have four overseas players and we only have one, so our point is that we wished to try and get closer to a level playing field.

"However, we are sure that the Champions League technical committee will look favourably on any request we make."