There have been reports of the Champions League T20 returning to a power-packed cricket calendar year. According to The Age, the proposal to revive the men’s franchise-based T20 tournament has gained support from major cricketing nations during the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore.
The Champions League T20 was introduced in 2008, and the inaugural tournament was held in 2009. It was discontinued in 2014 after broadcaster ESPN Star, which had invested nearly $1 billion in rights following its failure to secure the IPL, decided to withdraw due to mounting financial losses.
Champions League T20 a Joint Initiative by BCCI, CA, and CSA
The Champions League T20 was a joint initiative by the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa. They aimed to create a global T20 competition similar to football’s UEFA Champions League.
The tournament featured top teams from various domestic T20 leagues, including three from the IPL and two each from Australia’s Big Bash League and South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Indian franchises dominated the competition, with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) winning two titles each. Overall, Indian teams claimed four titles, while Australian sides New South Wales Blues and Sydney Sixers won once each.
Champions League T20 Set for Relaunch in September 2026
The Champions League T20 is set to return in September 2026, following strong support from the majority of member nations at the ICC’s annual meeting in Singapore. Financial details, including revenue distribution among teams and boards, are yet to be finalized.
The revival has created buzz among fans eager to see high-profile matchups between franchises from leagues like the IPL, BBL, and PSL.
Notably, the T20 landscape has changed significantly since the tournament was last held, with many players now participating in multiple leagues across the globe. This could pose challenges regarding player availability and team representation.
There is also growing speculation around Saudi Arabia’s involvement as a major financial partner or as a host. The Kingdom has shown increasing interest in global cricket and could play a significant role in the tournament’s future.
Two-Division Test Cricket Structure Could Be Finalised by Year-End
The ICC has decided to create an eight-member working group to overhaul the international cricket calendar from 2027. Sanjog Gupta, the ICC’s new chief executive, will be part of this panel, which will report its suggestions to the ICC Board, led by chairman Jay Shah.
While the current England-India Test series is drawing global attention, most Test-playing nations outside the ‘Big 3 [India, England, and Australia] struggle to generate revenue from the format.
South Africa, the reigning Test champions, are not scheduled to host a home series until late 2026. The ICC, in collaboration with the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and the ECB, has been discussing a two-tier structure for Test cricket, which has been gaining support in recent months.
The ICC Board also approved the qualification process for cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It has issued a three-month ultimatum to the USA Cricket board to resolve several compliance issues.