After more than 10 years since it was last played, the much-anticipated CLT20 (Champions League) is all set for a massive revival. During the recent ICC Annual Conference held in Singapore, members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially decided to bring back the international T20 franchise tournament. If plans proceed smoothly, the league could resume as early as next year.
ICC to Finalize Format Amid Global T20 Boom
The ICC is expected to convene soon with representatives from various national boards to finalise the league’s structure. One of the primary challenges they will face is handling cross-ownership, as several franchise owners now have teams across multiple countries. A new Governing Council or similar body will likely be established to oversee the Champions Leagueβs operations, much like in its previous edition.
A senior cricket official said,
βπΎπβππ ππππππππ π ππππ π ππππππππ πππ ππ π»20 πππππππ. π»ππ πππππ ππ ππππππ πππ, πππ πππ ππππππ ππππ πππππππ ππππ.β
Compared to when the Champions League T20 was shut down in 2015, the T20 cricket landscape has undergone significant growth. Today, over 11 major franchise leagues operate worldwide, including the UAEβs ILT20, USAβs Major League Cricket (MLC), The Hundred in England, and emerging tournaments in Nepal and Canada. This expansion makes the tournamentβs revival more relevant β and more complex.
Scheduling, Team Allocation Among Key Hurdles
Finding a suitable window in an already packed global cricket calendar remains a significant logistical hurdle. Moreover, deciding which teams from which leagues get entry will require careful planning.
As in the original format, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its marquee league, the Indian Premier League (IPL), are expected to take the lead in organising the tournament. Notably, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which was absent from the initial editions, is likely to participate this time alongside Cricket Australia (CA). Cricket South Africa (CSA), one of the founders, may also rejoin the fold.
An insider involved in the talks shared,
βπ¬πππππππ ππππππ πππ ππππ ππ πππππ, πππ πππππππ πππ πππ πππππππππ πππ ππ πππ ππππ ππππ ππππ ππππ πππππππ πππππ πππππππ.β
Champions League Broadcaster Yet to Be Finalised
Launched in 2009, the Champions League T20 was discontinued in 2014 after its three founding boards β BCCI, CA, and CSA β accepted a compensation offer from Star Sports, which had suffered heavy financial losses from the tournament. The deal marked the official shutdown in 2015.
To kick off the new edition, the priority will be to release a global tender to onboard a broadcasting partner, setting the commercial groundwork for the tournament’s long-awaited comeback.
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