Trans-Tasman Twenty20 tournament likely

New Zealand teams could compete in Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition as soon as 2008-09. The boards of Australia and New Zealand are discussing the potential for a Trans-Tasman tournament, with the top sides going on to compete against teams from India, England and South Africa in the newly-announced Champions Twenty20 League.

Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming were in New Delhi on Thursday for the launch of the ICC-sanctioned competition, which is seen as an official alternative to the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Although no players were named as definite participants Fleming and McGrath, both of whom had been courted by the ICL, would appear likely to play. Shane Warne's decision not to sign with the ICL has also fuelled speculation he might join the Champions Twenty20 League, which will start in October 2008.

The details are still being fine-tuned but the initial plan is for domestic teams that progress to the international tournament to be allowed to top up their squads with guest players. That could mean Warne or McGrath might sign with an Indian or England domestic team, for example, while an Australian state side could try to lure top players from other countries.

"That is certainly a possibility in the Champions League and, in some respects, that is part of the attraction," Cricket Australia's CEO James Sutherland told the Age. "It's a concept where we have the best of the best at domestic level playing against each other. Previously, apart from really isolated instances, this just hasn't happened before."

In the first season, the two Australian states that reach the KFC Twenty20 final will earn a place in the Champions League. However, after 2007-08 the states will probably have extra competition for a spot in the worldwide tournament.

"We have had preliminary talks with Cricket Australia about establishing a trans-Tasman league which will feed into subsequent global championships," New Zealand Cricket's CEO Justin Vaughan said. "Both New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia are interested in exploring this potential further with the possibility of a trans-Tasman league starting as early as the 2008-09 cricket season. The two top teams from this league would then progress to the Champions Twenty20 tournament to play teams from Indian, African and European leagues."