Clarke rules out coming to India to play in Champions League

Melbourne, Sep 8 (ANI): Australian Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke has declared himself unavailable for New South Wales for the inaugural Champions League cricket tournament to be played in India next month.

The tournament brings together 12 teams from around the world, divided into four groups of three. The top two teams in each group advance to another round robin stage, with the top two then qualifying for the semi-finals.

Clarke cited his heavy playing workload with the national team in opting out of the lucrative tournament starting on October 8.

The Blues on Tuesday named all of their other big guns for the tournament including Simon Katich Nathan Bracken, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, David Warner, Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin and Moises Henriques.

Wicketkeeper Haddin's participation is subject to a medical clearance on the finger he injured during the recent Ashes tour, the AAP reports.

If Haddin is ruled out, Daniel Smith will replace him. The team will be captained by Katich.

The Blues represent Australia in the tournament along with Victoria, who they beat in last season's domestic Twenty20 final.

They have been initially grouped with English T20 champion Sussex and South African runners-up the Diamond Eagles. (ANI)