London, June 10: English Counties are worried over the Indian cricket board's ruling not to pick rebel Indian Cricket League's (ICL) players for the forthcoming Twenty20 Champions League.

The issue of the rebel ICL players operating in English cricket has been an ongoing problem for the England and Wales Cricket Board. Only three counties have squads which have no ICL connections - Somerset, Essex and Middlesex.

Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi has said any team fielding unsanctioned ICL players will be excluded from the tournament featuring the top Twenty20 sides of India, South Africa, Australia and England.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke feels a resolution needs to found before the tournament's rules and regulations are revealed in Dubai June 29.

"We set down in our communique to counties last October the situation as we saw it then," Giles was quoted as saying in BBC Sports.

"The rules and regulations are being drawn up by Cricket Australia and when we and the other boards reach a conclusion on that we will advise the counties, but they are aware of some of the issues that have been raised.

"It is a matter entirely for them how they pick their sides," Giles said.

Northants' Andrew Hall and Hampshire's Shane Bond all featured in the unsanctioned ICL tournament this year, while Nottinghamshire's Chris Read, Worcestershire's Vikram Solanki and former England one-day wicket-keeper Paul Nixon featured in the inaugural ICL tournament last year.

Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "I think the situation is quite blurred. We are waiting for clarity."

Derek Brewer, chief executive of Nottinghamshire, said: "We will pick our best team and see what happens later on."

Another issue which needs clarification is team priority if a player has been involved with two or more teams involved in the Champions League.

"A far greater long-term issue for the success of this competition is who plays for who? That is a far more durable problem than a rogue competition that may not last another year or so," Giles said.

For example, Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas would have to play for Rajasthan Royals in the world event if both sides qualify.

England is the only one of the four participating nations not to have finalised their entrants.

Ahead of the opening matches of this year's Twenty20 Cup on Wednesday, counties must make a snap decision on their squad selection amid the current confusion.

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