Champions League T20 To Return? BCCI, In Talks With CA, ECB For Its Potential Revival

Nick Cummins, CEO of Cricket Victoria, reckons time is ripe for the revival of Champions League T20 - an international T20 tournament involving the best club teams in the world - and discussions are currently underway among cricket boards from India, Australia, and England regarding its potential revival.

The last edition of the CLT20 took place in India in 2014, where Chennai Super Kings emerged as champions by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final held in Bengaluru. The tournament featured teams from India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, the West Indies, and New Zealand.

Between 2009-10 and 2014-15, six editions of the CLT20 were held, with four in India and two in South Africa. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians each secured the title twice, while New South Wales and Sydney Sixes from Australia won it once each. Despite the crowded cricket calendar, efforts are being made to find a suitable timeframe for reviving this prestigious event.

Cummins, while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai, acknowledged the challenges in finding a window for the tournament's return, given the plethora of ICC tournaments and domestic leagues keeping the cricket calendar busy. However, he remains optimistic about the potential revival and emphasises the maturation of the T20 landscape since the last edition.

CLT20 was ahead of its time: Cummins

Cummins has revealed ongoing discussions between Cricket Australia (CA), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the BCCI regarding the revival of the Champions League.

"I think the (earlier edition of) Champions League was ahead of its time. The T20 landscape wasn't mature enough at that point. I think it is now," Cummins told the media during the announcement of its partnership with KheloMore to launch the Melbourne Cricket Academy in India.

"I know that there are active conversations between Cricket Australia (CA), ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) about (reviving) the Champions League," he said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has in the past tried to explore a window of 15 days in September-October (the same period when CLT20 was held) to host a mini-IPL-like competition on foreign shores to cash in on the immense popularity of its home-grown domestic T20 league but couldn't find any success.

Cummins suggests that the initial focus might be on women's cricket, involving players from various leagues like the WPL, the Hundred, and the WBBL. He highlights his regular discussions with CA's CEO and expresses openness from the Australian cricket perspective towards reintroducing the Champions League.

'CLT20 Will Settle The Debate Of Best T20 League In The World'

He envisions matchups like Melbourne Stars against Karachi Kings or Mumbai Indians against the Melbourne Stars as exciting prospects. Cummins concludes by emphasising the overdue revival of the Champions League and its potential to add excitement to the cricketing calendar, comparable to marquee international clashes.

"We still haven't made out which league is the best. IPL, PSL or the Big Bash? The only way we can show that is by having the Melbourne Stars play Karachi Kings or the Mumbai Indians," Cummins said.

"Our great aspiration is to have the Indian players play in the Big Bash," he said. "Champions League is well overdue. Look at what the Champions League does for football, the World Cup is fantastic and the Champions League is there (too) every time. "The idea of the Mumbai Indians playing the Melbourne Stars at the MCG would be just as exciting as India playing Australia at the MCG," he added.

How Football Struck A Balance Between Club & International Football Calendar

Drawing parallels with football's Champions League, Cummins emphasised the importance of balancing international and club-based competitions in cricket's evolution.

"Football had a really big club vs country tension in the 90s. And they found a way for international football to exist side by side with leagues. Cricket is going through it at the moment. Every country has the right to have a T20 league, whether it is Nepal or Ireland. We shouldn't place controls on how members want to play cricket," he stated further.