Nearly a decade since its last installment, discussions are underway among cricket authorities in India, Australia, and England to resurrect the Champions League, a premier T20 club competition on the international stage.
The last CLT20 edition took place in 2014 in India, with Chennai Super Kings emerging victorious over Kolkata Knight Riders in the final showdown held in Bengaluru. The tournament featured a mix of teams from India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, the West Indies, and New Zealand.
Between 2009-10 and 2014-15, a total of six editions of the CLT20 were contested, with India and South Africa hosting four and two editions respectively. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians claimed the title twice each, while New South Wales and Sydney Sixers from Australia clinched one victory each.
Despite a crowded cricket calendar, the primary challenge lies in finding an appropriate window to revive such a prestigious event, according to Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins. Cummins, who is privy to ongoing discussions among the major cricket boards, expressed his belief that the T20 landscape has matured significantly since the earlier editions of the Champions League.
"The (previous) Champions League was perhaps ahead of its time. The T20 format hadn't fully developed then, but it certainly has now," Cummins remarked during the announcement of a partnership with KheloMore to inaugurate the Melbourne Cricket Academy in India.
Acknowledging the active dialogue between Cricket Australia (CA), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cummins emphasized the logistical challenge of scheduling the tournament amidst various ICC events. He speculated that the initial revival of the Champions League might involve women cricketers, potentially drawing talent from leagues such as the WPL, the Hundred, and the WBBL.
Cummins disclosed ongoing conversations with CA's CEO Nick Hockley regarding the revival of CLT20, suggesting that insights from BCCI secretary Jay Shah could provide further clarity on the matter.
"Constant discussions are underway with Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, regarding the Champions League's resurgence, which we deem significant," Cummins stated, highlighting Australia's enthusiasm for the tournament's return. He underscored the importance of finding a suitable slot in the cricket calendar, viewing it as a pivotal step in the sport's evolution.
Drawing parallels with club-based international competitions like football's Champions League, Cummins emphasized cricket's quest to strike a balance between international and club-level tournaments. He proposed matchups like Melbourne Stars versus Karachi Kings or Mumbai Indians versus other top teams as a means to gauge the quality of various leagues.
"Our ambition extends to seeing Indian players participating in the Big Bash," Cummins revealed, underscoring the global appeal of such cross-league encounters.
With sentiments echoing the excitement surrounding football's Champions League, Cummins envisioned marquee matchups like Mumbai Indians facing off against Melbourne Stars, mirroring the fervor of international clashes.
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