The cancellation of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 was greeted with "huge disappointment".

The event was initially set to take place in India from September 29 to October 8 but was moved to December because of its close proximity to the Champions Trophy - which itself was later postponed.

The rescheduled Champions League was then put back again following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last month, leaving organisers with the problem of trying to find a new window in an already crammed calendar.

But the tournament's governing council have admitted defeat, after taking into account the international fixture list and the domestic schedules of the participating teams.

The likes of Middlesex captain Shaun Udal and chief executive Vinny Codrington are therefore having to come to terms with the disappointment, on the assumption they will have to re-qualify if they are to eventually take part in a competition which it is now hoped will be held next autumn.

Champions League Twenty20 chairman Lalit Modi today announced: "The inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will now be held in India in October 2009.

"The governing council, comprising the founder board members, took this collective decision after taking into account all aspects."

Middlesex were England's sole representatives, set to compete with Titans and Dolphins from South Africa, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings from India, Victoria Bushrangers and Western Australia Warriors from Australia and Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions.

Udal, who had been discussing the situation with Codrington only this morning, was taken aback when he later discovered there was to be no tournament after all.

"It is a shock. It's come as a really big surprise - a bolt out of the blue," he told Sky Sports News.

"Obviously, we are really disappointed. The communication lines have not been very good."

Middlesex were hardly banking on a winners' cheque from the Champions League, against such tough opposition, but they will be frustrated if they never get the chance to try.

"Financially for the club, it was a huge carrot that we were going to go out there and play in this tournament," Udal added.

"It would have been brilliant financially if we had done well. But it was a bonus, not something we had budgeted for.

"From both a potentially financial and a cricket point of view, it is hugely disappointing."

Udal's team had no qualms about returning to India, which has been deemed safe enough to host England for an ongoing two-Test series - after they had to cut short their one-day international trip in the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.

"We were happy to go back. I have spoken to most of the players in the last few days, and they were happy to go back," Udal confirmed.

As for the future, Udal and Codrington are united in where Middlesex must now channel their energies.

"We know what we have to do now - win the Twenty20 (Cup) in 2009 and get back there in October for the first one," the captain prescribed.

Unlike Udal, Codrington was not especially surprised at the cancellation - because he has been well aware in the weeks since Middlesex had to shelve their plans to fly to Mumbai at the last minute that it would be difficult to find a window.

"It is very disappointing," he said.

"The lads were all still very much looking forward to it and will be very disappointed when they hear.

"But it is not a great shock, not totally unexpected. It was clear they would have found it difficult to get a window for it."

Like Udal, Codrington is already eying a renewed challenge to reach what will still be the inaugural Champions League.

"We had a unique opportunity this year, which has now gone," he accepts.

"But what we have to do is think it will be a unique opportunity instead next year now - we need to try to focus on making sure we are there then."

As Codrington suspected, the tournament's governing council were hoping to find a slot in January or February.

But added to general fixture congestion were the potential security problems surrounding Sialkot, or any team from Pakistan, travelling to India at a time - following the Mumbai attacks - when political relations between the two sub-Continental countries are so strained.

The council also confirmed two teams from India, South Africa and Australia will play in October next year - but a decision on the other participants will be made by the end of next month.