Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read featured in the first ICL event

English counties are seeking clarification over eligibility from Indian authorities regarding players with rebel ICL connections.

The concern centres on the forthcoming Twenty20 Champions League.

Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has said any team fielding unsanctioned ICL players will be excluded from the autumn tournament.

Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "I think the situation is quite blurred. We are waiting for clarity."

Cricket Australia will reveal the tournament's rules and regulations in Dubai on 29 June, which is worth almost �2.5m ($5m) to the winners.

The issue of the rebel Indian Cricket League players operating in English cricket has been an ongoing problem for the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Only three counties have squads which have no ICL connections - Somerset, Essex and Middlesex.

Northants' Andrew Hall and Hampshire's Shane Bond all featured in the unsanctioned tournament this year, while Nottinghamshire's Chris Read, Worcestershire's Vikram Solanki and former England one-day wicket-keeper Paul Nixon featured in the inaugural tournament last year.

Another issue which needs clarification is team priority if a player has been involved with two or more teams involved in the Champions League.

BCCI vice-chairman chairman Modi has said any cricketer signed up for an IPL side must honour the Indian team's contract first and foremost.

606: DEBATE This clearly is going to raise some issues with English clubs which feature a few ICL players 80mph

For example, Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas would have to play for Rajasthan Royals in the world event if both sides qualify.

Ahead of the opening matches of this year's Twenty20 Cup on Wednesday, counties must make a snap decision on their squad selection amid the current confusion.

"We will pick our best team and see what happens later on," Derek Brewer, chief executive of Nottinghamshire, added.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke feels a resolution needs to found.

"We set down in our communique to counties last October the situation as we saw it then," he said.

"The rules and regulations are being drawn up by Cricket Australia and when we and the other boards reach a conclusion on that we will advise the counties, but they are aware of some of the issues that have been raised.

"It is a matter entirely for them how they pick their sides.

"A far greater long-term issue for the success of this competition is who plays for who?

"That is a far more durable problem than a rogue competition that may not last another year or so."

England is the only one of the four participating nations not to have finalised their entrants.

The two finalists at the Rose Bowl on 26 July will be put forward against the best 20-over sides from Australia, India and South Africa.