The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) is poised for a grand return — and this time, it’s expected to be bigger and better. At a recent ICC meeting held alongside the Annual Conference in Singapore, members formally agreed to revive the once-popular tournament featuring franchise teams from domestic T20 leagues around the world. If all goes to plan, the league could be back as early as next year.
Key Talks Underway
International cricket boards are set to meet soon to finalise the structure of the tournament. One of the biggest challenges is the widespread cross-ownership of teams, where franchise owners hold stakes in multiple leagues. A new Governing Council (GC) is expected to be formed to oversee the league and address such regulatory complexities.
A Transformed T20 Landscape
When CLT20 was discontinued in 2015, only a few countries hosted franchise-based leagues. A decade later, the T20 ecosystem has exploded globally. With over 11 major leagues — including those in the USA, UAE, Nepal, and Canada — and tournaments like The Hundred in England, the competitive landscape has dramatically expanded.
Organisers now face key decisions:
- How many teams can be accommodated?
- Which leagues will get representation?
- Where can it fit in an already packed global calendar?
India to Take the Lead, ECB to Join
As with the original version, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) are expected to lead the new venture. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which did not participate in the earlier editions, is likely to join the fold along with Cricket Australia (CA) and potentially Cricket South Africa (CSA) — one of the original founding members.
Back to Where It Ended
CLT20 was first launched in 2009 but was shelved after the 2014 season. In 2015, the founding boards accepted a compensation package from the tournament’s official broadcaster at the time, which had incurred financial losses and opted to discontinue the event.
As the tournament gears up for its second innings, the first major step will be to float a tender for broadcast rights, paving the way for a potential 2025 relaunch.
