JOHANNESBURG, July 3: Sialkot Stallions will be the first Pakistan team to compete at the Champions League Twenty20 when the cricket tournament returns to South Africa in October, organisers said on Tuesday.

The Pakistan domestic T20 champions will join teams from the host country, India, England, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the competition, which runs from Oct 9 to 28.

It's the second time the tournament has been played in South Africa. The matches will be staged in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Centurion.

Mumbai Indians will defend their title despite not finishing in the top three at the Indian Premier League and compete alongside IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, 2010 Champions League winners Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils.

Australia's Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers also have qualified and the winners and runners-up of England's domestic T20 competition, which ends in August, will both earn places.

The Champions League governing council said South Africa's Nashua Titans and Highveld Lions, Trinidad and Tobago, Auckland Aces and the winner of Sri Lanka's T20 tournament were the other sides in the tournament, which was expanded from 10 to 14 teams.The Champions League was last in South Africa in 2010, with the 2009 and 2011 versions held in India.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received an official invitation for participation in the qualifying phase of the event.

The qualifying tournament will feature six teams and top teams from each group will advance to the next stage.

“The invitation will be discussed in the PCB's Executive Coordination Committee meeting on Wednesday,” said a board statement on Tuesday.—Agencies