KEY POINTS:
Hamish Marshall might have ended his association with the rebel Indian Cricket League but he will still be unable to represent Northern Districts in the Champions League should they qualify.
Despite playing 13 tests and 66 one-day internationals for New Zealand, Marshall is playing this season for ND as an English import as he turned down a New Zealand contract two seasons ago to use his Irish passport to play in England as a local player.
In an equally confusing turn of events, Northern Districts had to seek clearance to play Marshall this season in the Twenty20 competition for fear his appearance might preclude them from attending the Champions League should they win the State Twenty20.
"He is eligible to play for us in the domestic Twenty20," ND chief executive David Cooper said, "but our understanding is he still won't be able to go to the Champions league tournament, should we qualify, because of his ICL ties."
Originally the Champions League board wanted to ban any teams from their tournament who fielded ICL players in their domestic competitions.
They then set a 'statute of limitations' on that, saying those who had signed up in the original raid would be excused given that they did not know the ramifications at the time.
In reality, English players who had signed with the ICL, including former international wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, won a restraint of trade court case against the England and Wales Cricket Board when the ECB tried to bar them from playing Twenty20 for their counties.
With their mix of exciting young talent and experience, State Shield champions ND will be favoured to do well in the T20 as well. Should they win it, Cooper was non-committal as to whether he would try to press the Champions League into allowing Marshall to play.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan did not believe it would be possible, unless the Champions League suddenly altered its rules.
Marshall opened for ND in the State Shield final yesterday, scoring just eight off 16 balls.
STATE TWENTY20 PROGRAMME
Wednesday Feb 4
* Auckland v ND, Eden Park
* CD v Wellington, McLean Park
* Otago v Canterbury, University Oval
Friday Feb 6
* Canterbury v ND, QEII Park
* CD v Auckland, Pukekura Park
* Wellington v Otago, Basin Reserve
Sunday Feb 8
* Auckland v Canterbury, Eden Park
* CD v Otago, Pukekura Park
* Wellington v ND, Basin Reserve
Wednesday Feb 11
* ND v CD, Seddon Park
Friday Feb 13
* Canterbury v Wellington, QEII Park
* Otago v Auckland, Centennial Park
Sunday Feb 15
* Auckland v Wellington, Eden Park
* Canterbury v CD, QEII Park
* Otago v ND, University Oval
Wednesday Feb 18
* ND v Canterbury, Seddon Park
* Otago v CD, University Oval
* Wellington v Auckland, Basin Reserve
Friday Feb 20
* Canterbury v Auckland, QEII Park
* ND v Otago, Blake Park
* Wellington v CD, Basin Reserve
Sunday Feb 22
* Auckland v Otago, Eden Park
* CD v Canterbury, Pukekura Park
* ND v Wellington, Blake Park
Sunday Mar 1: FINAL
