The Champions League T20 is making a comeback. And this time, it’s not the BCCI, not Cricket Australia. It’s the ICC pulling the strings.
Once seen as a scrapped idea, the ICC has now taken formal steps to revive the international franchise tournament, with a possible relaunch as early as 2026. Think of it as cricket’s own Club World Cup, where the best T20 franchises from across the globe could face off in one blockbuster competition.
Why Was It Shut Down in the First Place?
If you’re wondering why a tournament, where giants like CSK and Mumbai Indians were crowned champions twice each, was discontinued, here’s a quick rewind.
Launched in 2009, the CLT20 ran until 2014 before being shelved. The reason?
Massive financial losses suffered by Star Sports, the broadcaster. Viewership dropped, sponsorships weren’t sustainable, and non-IPL matches failed to attract audiences. In 2015, Star offered a compensation package, and the three founding boards: BCCI, Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa, agreed to shut it down.
What’s Changed in 10 Years?
Back then, the franchise landscape was thin apart from the IPL, with only a few active leagues like the BBL and the early days of the CPL. Fast forward to now, and there are over 10 global T20 leagues, including the SA20, ILT20, MLC, and The Hundred. The T20 ecosystem is now booming and the ICC believes the timing is perfect for a global franchise showdown.
Cross-Team Ownership: A New Challenge
But the biggest hurdle?
Shared ownership.
Many IPL franchises now own teams across leagues — with overlapping players and shared management. That means the same group could have stakes in both competing teams. In the earlier CLT20, player overlap was resolved by one franchise paying the other to access a player. But in today’s interconnected landscape, how will the ICC regulate competitive fairness?
A new governing council is expected to be formed, and a broadcaster deal will be the first major step before launch.
Final Word: The World Awaits a Global Franchise Showdown
It’s a bold move.
And it comes with big questions.
But if the ICC can pull this off, the Champions League T20 could become cricket’s most exciting club tournament yet.
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