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Sanjeev's Victoria copies
A pall of gloom has descended over the cricket fraternity following the terrorist strikes in Mumbai. Equally disappointed about the turn of events are the players of the two Australian domestic teams, Victoria and Western Australia, who were to participate in the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League next week.
"The players were waiting for this tournament for some time and very much looking forward to it but they also understand the situation and no one wants their safety compromised," Cricket Victoria's media manager Evion Bowen told MiD DAY yesterday.
For the not-so-big names of these teams, the league is a great chance to showcase their skills in front of a global audience.
The inaugural Twenty20 Champions League, featuring provincial teams from Australia, South Africa, England, Pakistan and India, was postponed to a date yet to be determined. It was due to start on Wednesday.
After receiving the tragic news, Cricket Australia halted the departures of the Western Australia and Victoria state teams, along with Test stars Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson who were playing for Indian teams.
Victoria Bushrangers, Australia's Twenty20 champions, were preparing for the tournament in Perth and were due to play a warm-up game against the Western Australia Warriors today.
"I woke up to the shocking news very early in the morning. It's very sad day for the community in Mumbai, it's a terrible tragedy and no one in the world wants to see," said Victoria's coach Greg Shipperd.
"From the information we have received, these are very difficult, very devastating and tragic circumstances in Mumbai. Some terrible things have happened.
My mind is only for the people who have suffered there and not too much whether what is happening with our cricket tour," said a disturbed Shipperd, who also coached the Delhi Daredevils last year in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. | 
