Shane Bond's ICL commitments may prevent him from playing Champions League 20-20

Canterbury (New Zealand), Feb.26 (ANI): Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond will not play this year's Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Arguably the standout performer of Canterbury's march to the State Twenty20 final against Otago, Bond's contract with the Delhi Giants means he will not be permitted to play in the Champions event, should Canterbury win and then the winner of Sunday's match be invited.

Unlike Chris Harris, whose differing contract with the Hyderabad Heroes meant he was not eligible to play for Canterbury at all during the State Twenty20, Bond has been.

But donning the red-and-black colours over in India would be a bridge too far for Champions League organisers Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Talks between the BCCI, International Cricket Council and ICL, about the ICL and its players coming in from the cold, broke down in Johannesburg on Monday.

Canterbury Cricket chief executive Lee Germon said it would take a significant thaw in those relations, or the demise of the ICL, to reverse the ruling on Bond.

"If he is no longer part of the ICL, then perhaps things could change. But, at this stage, Bondy can't play," Germon said. (ANI)