ECB refuses to release Shah, Strauss for Champions League

London, Nov 6 (UNI) England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has refused to release Owais Shah and Andrew Strauss from the ODI squad for its Twenty20 county champions Middlesex to play in the inaugural Champions League starting December 3.

Shah and Strauss have been included in the England squad for the two-Test series against India starting on December 11, while the Champions League ends on December 10.

Shah has also been named for the upcoming seven-match ODI series against India that begins from November 14.

Champions League chief executive Sundar Raman has further increased the problems for Middlesex after he said no team would be allowed to add any new player in their squad.

''The rules are clear that only those players who enabled the squad to win the domestic championship can play in the Champions League,'' Raman was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

UNI XC RAR RKM KN1659