Modi says the format of the Champions League is still to be decided

The second edition of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament will be held in South Africa, Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed.

However, it remains to be seen whether there will be any involvement from any English counties or players.

The dates - 10-26 September - clash both with the end of the domestic season in England and a one-day series in which England are hosting Pakistan.

And the England and Wales Cricket Board has already raised "strong concerns".

Modi, who is currently at the centre of controversy concerning alleged financial irregularities in the IPL, said venues and competing teams for the second edition of the global tournament would be "finalised in the coming weeks".

He went on: "South Africa is considered an ideal Champions League host after successfully staging the IPL and the ICC World Twenty20 tournaments in recent years, as well as the strong support shown for its domestic Pro20 Series competition."

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The tournament comprises the top teams from domestic Twenty20 competitions in Australia, South Africa and India, the three founding boards, as well as teams from other Test-playing nations.

The Mumbai Indians, the Chennai Super Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore have qualified for the tournament from the IPL, which has its final on Sunday.

But the quality of the IPL franchises was put in doubt when New South Wales and Trinidad contested last year's inaugural final, won by the Australian state side.

In last October's tournament, Somerset and Sussex were the English representatives.

CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said: "This means that CSA will have hosted all of world cricket's top tournaments and reaffirms South Africa as a preferred venue for major sports events."

CSA president Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka called the announcement "a significant vote of confidence in South Africa as a safe and secure destination for major sports events, coming on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2010 here."

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