According to reports, the proposed Champions League in India has been scrapped, denying the counties who reach the Twenty20 Cup final at the Rose Bowl on Saturday the chance of playing for a $5 million (£2.5m) prize. But the ECB remains confident that an alternative competition in the Middle East will go ahead in the autumn.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has blamed a cramped schedule, the four countries involved - South Africa and Australia as well as England and India - have been unable to resolve a number of critical issues over regulations with the planned event little more than two months away.

The BCCI wanted a 50 percent of a share in the event rather than an equal quarter, and also insisted that teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL) - the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings - would be allowed first call on those players who also featured for successful teams in their own domestic league.

Demand that Australia players such as Shane Watson appear in the event so close to the Test Series in India starting on October 9 also caused problems for Cricket Australia, while the ECB has failed to broker a deal on the BCCI's hardline stance on those who have taken part in the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League.

The ECB is understood to be in advanced talks with broadcasters and sponsors for its own competition which has the scope to match the initial Champions League for prize money. Kent, Middlesex, Essex and Durham, the semi-finalists on Saturday, could also take part in an Allan Stanford event in Antigua to be confirmed tomorrow.

Stanford's investment has given the ECB far more confidence in standing up to the money-laden BCCI at a time of simmering conflict between the boards. The ECB Champions League would take place in Dubai or Abu Dhabi around the first week in October with invitations to the IPL finalists.