All-rounder qualifies for Champions League with two sides
Sussex Sharks skipper Michael Yardy insists he will do all he can to persuade Dwayne Smith to stay and help his side's Champions League assault in India.
Smith is in the unprecedented position of qualifying for the multi-million pound event with two sides having helped Deccan Chargers win the Indian Premier League in October.
The West Indian smashed 59 off only 26 deliveries in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup final victory over Somerset at Edgbaston and is also a key weapon in the Sharks' armoury.
Smith signed a three-year contract with Sussex last season but Deccan may also have a say in who the 26-year-old represents at the event.
Yardy said: "I am not 100 per cent sure what the situation is regarding Dwayne and the Champions League. It would be nice to have him.
"When you go to a big competition like the Champions League, you want to have your top Twenty20 players available.
Fantastic
"Dwayne is certainly one of those so we will have to see where that takes us.
"I am sure it will be discussed within the next few weeks with the Deccan Chargers to see where everything stands."
Former England one-day international Yardy is relishing the prospect of competing for a six million dollar jackpot.
He said: "I remember speaking to Matt Prior before the first one and he was saying about the hype in India before that tournament and how big an event it is.
"I've played in India and you know how partisan they are about their cricket and it is something to really look forward to and we want to go over there and do ourselves justice.
"I am sure we will have a bit of time out there to prepare. There are big figures of money being bandied around and that is fantastic. I think it is great for cricket.
"Twenty20 is moving the goalposts and, for us as county cricketers, it is great to have the opportunity to earn that type of money."
