Kent's chances of playing in the cash-rich Twenty20 Champions League planned for October appear to be hanging on a thread today after an announcement by the Indian organisers that only Middlesex were to be offered a place in the tournament.

Under original agreements both finalists at last Saturday's Twenty20 extravaganza at the Rose Bowl were to be invited to play in the late September early-October event, but last night's meeting in Bombay, at which the ECB had no representation, confirmed Kent were not being asked to participate because of Azhar Mahmood's and Justin Kemp's involvement in the rival Indian Cricket League.

Middlesex have until Monday to confirm their willingness to take part, but it is believed the ECB will not stand in their way and allow Crusaders to take on club sides from Australia, India, South Africa and now Pakistan, who have been offered the a place instead of Kent.

Responding to the news Kent's chairman George Kennedy, in alluding to ECB's plans for a Twenty20 tournament in October held in either Sharjah or Dubai, said: "If they exclude England (English counties) I wouldn't be at all surprised to see another rival tournament spring up somewhere else in the world."