KARACHI: Pakistan’s reining twenty20 champions Sialkot Stallions have been confirmed as one of the participants at this year’s Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) after a member of the tournament’s technical committee announced their inclusion.

The participation of a Pakistani twenty20 team in the CLT20 2012 was hinted at by the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) N Srinavasan earlier this month. On Monday, however, it was all but confirmed as CLT20 official Sundar Raman announced on social networking website Twitter: “CLT to invite Sialkot stallions for this year's edition.”

The cricket boards of Australia, India and South Africa own and the tournament, which is being held each year since 2009. Top domestic Twenty20 teams from all Test-playing nations, except Pakistan, have been participating in the event.

In 2008, when the tournament was set to hold its first edition, Pakistan was expected to be represented by Sialkot Stallions. However, with the fall-out of relations between Pakistan and India following the November 26 Mumbai attacks, the Stallions were unable to participate.

The Sialkot team, who have won the domestic Twenty20 tournament on a record seven occasions, expressed interest in being part of the CLT20 after winning the Super 8 T20 tournament last month.