Champions League draw made

Middlesex will take on Victoria in the opening match of the Champions League

Middlesex Crusaders have been drawn alongside Australia's Victoria Bushrangers, South Africa's Pretoria Titans and India's Chennai Super Kings in Group A of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

The competition, to be played in India from December 3-10, features eight teams, two each from the founding board members - Australia, India and South Africa - as well as Shaun Udal’s Lord’s-based side and Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions.

Middlesex face Victoria in the tournament’s opening-day curtain-raiser in Mumbai before moving on to Chennai to play Pretoria two days later and the Super Kings on their home ground on December 6.

Group B for the tournament comprises Indian Premier League champions Rajasthan Royals, Sialkot, South Africa's Natal Dolphins and Australia's Western Warriors.

The top two from each group qualify for the semi-finals, with the finalists meeting in Chennai for the showpiece on December 10.

Champions League schedule

December 3:
Middlesex Crusaders v Victoria Bushrangers, Mumbai
Rajasthan Royals v Natal Dolphins, Mumbai

December 4:
Sialkot Stallions v Western Warriors, Bangalore
Chennai Super Kings v Victoria, Mumbai

December 5:
Middlesex Crusaders v Pretoria Titans, Chennai
Sialkot Stallions v Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai

December 6:
Western Warriors v Natal Dolphins, Bangalore
Victoria Bushrangers v Pretoria Titans, Chennai
Chennai Super Kings v Middlesex Crusaders, Chennai

December 7:
Natal Dolphins v Sialkot Stallions, Bangalore
Rajasthan Royals v Western Warriors, Bangalore
Chennai Super Kings v Pretoria Titans, Chennai

Semi-finals

December 8: Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Bangalore

December 9: Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Chennai

Final

December 10: Semi-final winners 1 v Semi-final winners 2, Chennai