The participation of English sides in the lucrative Champions League will be determined by the ECB over the next few days.

Officials from India, South Africa and Australia agreed a format for the eight-team tournament, which would feature the leading eight domestic Twenty20 teams in the world between September 29 and October 8 for a prize pool of USD 6 million, at a meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday.

An invitation has been made to Middlesex, England's Twenty20 Cup winners, to join the two finalists from the three countries and a team from Pakistan.

But that invitation is set to exclude Kent, beaten finalists at this year's Twenty20 Cup, because they fielded two players - Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood - who have featured in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

It presents a problem to the ECB, who are due to discuss the proposal over the next few days - and possibly at Monday's Board meeting - before deciding whether to wait and enter two sides in the 2009 event instead.

The ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have been in dispute for months over the issue of India's 50 per cent share in all the profits and governance of the competition, and their total opposition to teams who have ICL players on their books.

India's stance seems to have softened, however, and they have agreed to reduce their share of the profits and give equal voting rights to all four founder members - themselves, South Africa, Australia and England.

But players who feature in this year's ICL tournament will not be allowed to play in next summer's Twenty20 Cup and therefore eliminate their teams from the Champions League if they qualify.

Middlesex, who could have most to lose should the ECB decide not to participate this year, have confirmed they will discuss the situation in the coming days to seek a resolution.

Secretary Vinny Coddrington confirmed: "We would obviously consult with the ECB before making any final decision. I haven't seen the offer yet but we are part of the ECB and we'd have to go through the consultation with them.

"From our point of view we've got extremely good relations with both BCCI and the ECB and we're excited about the fact the tournament is going ahead and we'll have to wait and see what happens."

England are believed to be pressing ahead with their own plans for a rival Champions League tournament but without Indian backing - which they are unlikely to receive now they have agreed a format for their own tournament - it seems unlikely to succeed.

Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League and BCCI vice-president, has no doubt that their model for the Champions League will be the one that succeeds and becomes established as the premier Twenty20 event.

"The Champions Twenty20 League, which will be played by the eight best teams from the world which have earned their place through their domestic competitions, provides a new and exciting pinnacle for club championships across the world," he said.

"It will provide teams with the opportunity to earn the title of World Club Champions in a format which will be eagerly anticipated by spectators and players alike."

The inaugural tournament will initially feature eight teams who will play 15 matches but that number will increase to 12 teams playing 23 matches in 2009.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

Australia were equally enthusiastic with James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, claiming: "This fantastic new competition gives our best state cricketers, and their equivalents in other competitions, a chance to pit their skills against champions from other countries."

Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's chief executive, believes the significant agreement could boost the standing of domestic cricket around the world and give it a greater status.

"The Champions Twenty20 League is an idea whose time has come," he added. "I'm certain this competition will significantly enhance the international stature of domestic cricket and pave the way for greater involvement of cricketers, right from the club, province, state and county through to the national and international arenas."