Middlesex's participation in the fledgling Champions League in India is in doubt because of the this week's terrorist atrocities in Mumbai.

The players were due to fly out today (Thursday) ahead of their first match against the Victoria Bushrangers of Australia on Wednesday - a game due to take place in the troubled city. But the club postponed their flight and are awaiting advice from the Foreign Office and the ECB.

Middlesex chief executive Vinny Codrington said: "The situation is very fluid and will no doubt change over the next 24 hours. Clearly the players' safety is our top priority."

Middlesex qualified for the new competition after winning the domestic Twenty20 cup last summer. They are due to play one game in Mumbai before heading to Chennai in the south west of the country to play Nashua Titans and the Chennai Super Kings.

In other Middlesex news this week, skipper Ed Smith announced his retirement from the game. He did not play in the Twenty20 finals and found himself out of the team towards the end of last season.