Champions League T20 Set for Stunning Return After Decade-Long Absence

The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) is poised to make a comeback after more than a decade. The International Cricket Council (ICC) members convened in Singapore during the ICC Annual Conference and made a formal decision to revive the tournament. This tournament will feature franchises from various domestic Twenty20 leagues across different countries. If everything proceeds as planned, the league could be relaunched as early as next year.

The last edition in the CLT20 took place in 2014 which was won by CSK © Getty

Image: CSK celebrates their 2014 CLT20 victory.

Cricbuzz has learned that international boards will soon meet to determine the league's operational details. A significant challenge will be addressing the cross-ownership structure of teams, as many franchise owners possess teams in multiple countries. Regulators are expected to form a Governing Council (GC) or Board to manage the league, similar to the previous structure.

Challenges Ahead

Another critical challenge for regulators is determining the scope and scale of the league. Since the Champions League T20 was discontinued in 2015, the T20 landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Franchise-based competitions have expanded beyond major Test-playing nations. Now, even Associate nations like the USA and UAE host their own tournaments. Nepal and Canada have also joined this trend. Currently, there are approximately 11 major franchise leagues worldwide, including The Hundred in England.

Organizers will face challenges in identifying a suitable window within the packed cricket calendar. They must also decide on team allocations from different leagues. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its prominent Indian Premier League (IPL) are expected to lead this venture. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which was not involved in the previous league, is also likely to participate actively, along with Cricket Australia (CA). The involvement of Cricket South Africa (CSA), one of the three founding members of CL T20, remains uncertain.

History of the CLT20

Launched in 2009, the CL T20 was discontinued after the 2014 season. The founding members, BCCI, CA, and CSA, accepted a proposal from broadcaster Star Sports to shut down the league due to heavy financial losses. Star Sports offered a compensation package, which the three boards approved in 2015.

The revival will begin with the new members floating a tender to onboard a broadcaster.