AN international telephone hook-up on Friday is set to decide whether WA retains its chance to compete for millions of dollars in the Twenty20 Champions League.

The Warriors and Victoria had qualified as Australia’s two representatives for the tournament, which was meant to be played in India now.

The winner will get about $5 million, with the majority of that to be split between the players.

The competition represents a golden opportunity for state cricketers to show their wares on a world stage, and possibly push for a lucrative Indian Premier League contract in the future.

But the Champions League was postponed for the second time after last month’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, one of the host cities.

With its fate since shrouded in mystery, a telephone hook-up between the three members of the Champions League governing council will attempt to determine what will happen with the 2008/09 edition.

The tournament is controlled by the national cricket authorities in India, Australia and South Africa.
WA fears that if the tournament does not go ahead this season it will be stripped of its right to compete.

The WACA has even offered to host matches in a rescheduled tournament, possibly in March, as part of a bid to ensure it holds onto its spot.

Cricket Australia spokesman Phillip Pope said the conference call “will establish exactly what opportunities will exist for rescheduling the competition in the 2008/09 season”.

“The next stage is to sit down and explore every available option,” he said.

“Obviously international cricket has a very tight schedule over the next six to eight months. Naturally there is a desire for the postponed competition to occur in the 08/09 season.

“That will mean everybody has to look extremely closely at the calendar.”