Both the Indian cricket board and the International Cricket Council refuse to sanction the tournament, being organised by the Indian Cricket League, created by Indian media company Zee Telefilms.
The breakaway is in the style of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.
Cricket. Packer lured many top players to his breakaway World Series Cricket after his Channel 9 network failed to acquire the rights to televise Australian cricket. Zee Telefilms is fighting back after being denied the Indian TV rights.
Stars that have been linked to the breakaway include West Indian star Brian Lara and Australian bowling legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
Tony Greig, one of the key players who helped Packer create World Series Cricket 30 years ago, is one of ICL's leading officials.
The league proposes to field six teams - each featuring four international players, two Indian stars and eight up and coming players- playing Twenty20 matches across India.
