Victorian Bushrangers qualify for CL T20

Victorian Bushrangers have qualified to play in this year's Champions League Twenty20 after winning Big Bash Preliminary final against Gold Queensland Bulls.

The Australian domestic side, who secured their place in the cash-awash event on Tuesday, had also featured in the inaugural T20 tournament in 2009.

South Australia's West End Redbacks had recently became the first team to qualify for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20.

Lalit Modi, Chairman of the CL T20, said Bushrangers would be one of the strong contenders at the second edition of the tournament, dates of which are yet to be announced.

"The rewards that flow from a place in the elite CLT20 field have raised the stakes for domestic teams with the knowledge that success at home delivers international exposure and opportunity.

"The Bushrangers showed at last year's Champions League that they possess the skills to challenge for the title. They are obviously one of the strongest domestic Twenty20 teams in world cricket and will have benefitted from the experience gained from their semi-final appearance last year," he said.

Michael Brown, Cricket Australia Acting CEO, praised the Victorian side for their consistent good show.

"The DEC Bushrangers have again shown their strength in Twenty20 cricket with last night's victory ensuring their fifth straight appearance in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Final," he said.

The next team to qualify for the Champions League will come from New Zealand.

The final of the HRV Cup Twenty20 will be played on January 31 with the winner to qualify for the Champions League.

New Zealand's representatives at last year's tournament, Otago Volts, currently lead the competition on run rate ahead of Central Stags.