Vaughan confident about Kiwi 20-20 champs being re-invited for Champions Trophy

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Cricket chief Justin Vaughan is confident that his country’s Twenty20 champions - Central Districts-will be invited back to next year’s Champions Trophy despite their ongoing struggles to compete.

Central Districts return home from South Africa winless from four matches, after they crashed to a 74-run defeat to Sri Lankan side Wayamba yesterday.

It followed Otago’s losses to South Africa’s Cape Cobras and Bangalore in their only matches at last year’s tournament.

While there might be sniggers among other nations about the strength of New Zealand’s topsides, NZC chief executive Vaughan was relaxed about their continued involvement.

“Obviously the tournament organisers have the ability to review that, but my understanding is that the number of teams would remain the same, if not expand,” stuff.co.nz was quoted, as saying.

“I would be confident that a New Zealand team is still a very cemented part of the Champions League,” he added.

Financially, it was a roaring success, with Central Districts returning with 400,000 dollars.

They got 200,000 dollars for finishing between fifth and 10th and another 200,000 dollars from Bangalore Royal Challengers as a transfer fee for star batsman Ross Taylor, whose IPL side had first option on his services.

Under the New Zealand Cricket agreement, the money will be split into seven, with Central Districts banking two shares and the rest shared evenly among the five other major associations. (ANI)