Champions League T20 set to be back after 10 years – Check possible teams, venue, other details

The Champions League T20 was launched in 2008 but the inaugural edition had to be cancelled due to Mumbai terror attacks. Thereafter, the CLT20 ran from 2009 to 2014.

New Delhi: The Champions League T20, which was disbanded in 2014, is all set to return at the end of this year, according to a report. The tournament is likely to be held in West Indies and is likely to be a seven-team affair, unlike the 10 teams that used to participate. The CLT20 was launched in 2008 but that year the tournament was cancelled due to Mumbai terror attacks. Thereafter, the CLT20 took place from 2009 to 2014 before being disbanded.

Based on a report by Bangladeshi journalist Riasad Azim, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Fortune Barishal have been approached by the CLT20 organisers to take part in the tournament. Besides, the team from Bangladesh, champion sides from the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League (Australia), Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, T20 Blast (England) and SA20 are likely to compete in the tournament.

Although the format of the tournament is yet to be known, the teams will likely be playing round-robin games with the top four sides qualifying for the playoffs. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the most successful sides in CLT20 with two titles each. CSK had won the title the last time in 2014.

Earlier in April, reports had emerged that BCCI, Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are in talks to revive the club-based cricket competition. Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins had then stated that the CLT20 was ahead of its time as the T20 landscape wasn’t mature at the time.

“I think the Champions League was ahead of its time. The T20 landscape wasn’t mature enough at that point. I think it is (mature) now. I know that there are active conversations between CA, ECB and the BCCI about reviving the Champions League,” Cummins said then.

“It’s just about trying to find a window to play the tournament because you’ve also got all the ICC tournaments as well. Maybe we’ll see the women’s Champions League being played first which could involve cricketers playing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), The Hundred, and the Women’s Big Bash League,” added Cummins.