KARACHI, Sept 20: Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will skip the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League tournament to concentrate on playing first-class cricket in Australia.

The tournament, to be held from Dec 3 to 10 with $6 million in prize money will feature two teams from each of Australia, India and South Africa and the champions from the English and Pakistan domestic competitions.

Younis, however, confirmed he would not play the tournament to fulfil his contract in Australia’s domestic competition with South Australia.

“Twenty20 cricket might be popular among the people but to me it is nothing compared to first-class cricket,” Younis told a local television channel.

“I would prefer to play first-class because that is real cricket and that is where a player is really tested,” he added.

Younis is scheduled to join South Australia in mid-October after playing in Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 competition and in a four-nation event in Toronto, Canada, that finishes on Oct 14.—Reuters