During the annual meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) held in Singapore, member countries unanimously called for the revival of the Menβs T20 Champions League. The ICC approved the proposal with a majority and announced that the tournament will be relaunched in a new format starting from September next year.
ICC Forms Calendar Working Group
Providing insights into the meeting, two exclusive sources revealed,
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The ICC Calendar Working Group will comprise eight members, including Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg, England and Wales Cricket Board CEO Richard Gould, and the ICC’s newly appointed CEO, Sanjog Gupta. The group is expected to present its interim findings and recommendations to ICC Board Chairman Jay Shah before the end of 2025.
“Tough Decisions Needed for Cricket’s Future” β ICC CEO
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, speaking at the MCCβs World Cricket Connects Panel 2023 at Lordβs, stressed the importance of aligning with fan interests and market demand.
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A Look Back at the Champions League’s History
The T20 Champions League was first introduced in 2008 and continued until 2014. However, the league was discontinued after broadcaster ESPN decided to shut it down, despite having invested nearly one billion dollars to retain the rights. This move was partly aimed at minimising financial losses after ESPN lost the broadcasting rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Champions League was a collaborative venture between Cricket Australia, the BCCI, and Cricket South Africa. Interestingly, the revenue generated through ESPN-Starβs deal helped fund the early development of Australiaβs Big Bash League, which became a commercial success by 2013.
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