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LONDON - Jacob Oram hopes he can play some part in cricket's rich Champions League, as some of his New Zealand countrymen consult lawyers over their potential involvement.
The allrounder has qualified to play the eight-team Champions League, which carries a first prize of US$5 million ($6.69 million), after his Chennai Super Kings team finished second in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The problem is a clash with New Zealand's test and one-day international tour of Bangladesh, scheduled to begin in the first week of October, which Oram knows will rule him out of most, if not all, of the Champions League.
"I honestly don't know what dates are what. All I know is we're leaving early October for Bangladesh," he said.
"If I get an opportunity I'd jump at it because I had such a great time at the IPL and to be a part of a team with (Michael) Hussey, (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Mahendra) Dhoni again, I'd be there, but not at the expense of a Black Caps tour, obviously.
"I've made a point to touch base with (Chennai) to see if they know any information.
"It's not far away so I have to plan for that, and if it can be fitted in then I'd love to have a go."
Indian officials this week said the Champions League, most likely to be played in northern India, would fit into an unconfirmed 10-day period somewhere between September 29 and October 9.
All New Zealand Cricket-contracted players are obliged to fulfil their international commitments over Twenty20, and Oram was adamant he would not miss the solitary three-day warmup match in Bangladesh.
"I wouldn't like to arrive in Bangladesh the day before the first test and say `here I am, let's go', I'd like to be there for some of the leadup."
Oram's Chennai teammates, Hussey and Matthew Hayden, both confirmed yesterday that Australia's tour match in India from October 2-5 would take precedence over the Champions League.
That was despite Inderjit Bindra, a member of the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council, claiming the pair would play for their IPL team.
Meanwhile, a storm is brewing in England as rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) players - including former Black Caps Chris Cairns, Andre Adams and Lou Vincent - seek to clarify their rights.
IPL chairman Lalit Modi this week claimed that the two leading English sides would be banned from the Champions League if they fronted with ICL players, and that Pakistan could potentially replace them.
Fifteen of the 18 English county sides vying for Champions League spots contain ICL players.
The issue will be thrashed out at next week's ICC executive meeting in Dubai, where the ECB hopes to have the support of Australia and South Africa.
Former Australian international Stuart Law, Vincent's captain at Lancashire, is leading the opposition on behalf of the ICL players who have consulted a lawyer.
"There are one or two guys sitting in armchairs in India trying to rule world cricket," Law told the Daily Mail newspaper.
"It's rubbish and there seems to be a complete lack of common sense here. We are not doing anything illegal, all we are doing is trying to play cricket for a league that they perceive to be in competition with them."
Law said the players' legal advice was they had a strong case, if it went to court.
Lancashire are among the leading playoff contenders, having drawn level with Durham at the top of the north division thanks to a Vincent century yesterday.
Cairns' and Adams' Nottinghamshire are also well placed for a quarterfinal spot.
- NZPA
