The cricket fraternity is abuzz with talks of reviving the prestigious Champions League T20.
A club-based international T20 competition that last graced the cricketing world in 2014. Nick Cummins, the CEO of Cricket Victoria, revealed that there have been “active conversations” between India, Australia, and England cricket boards to bring back this exhilarating tournament. The Champions League T20, which saw its last edition in India with Chennai Super Kings emerging as the champions, featured teams from India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, the West Indies, and New Zealand.
With six editions played between 2009-10 and 2014-15, the tournament witnessed remarkable success, with powerhouses like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians claiming the title multiple times.
Despite the enthusiasm for the revival, the cricket calendar’s congestion poses a significant challenge in finding a suitable window for the tournament. Cummins acknowledged this hurdle, citing the need to accommodate the existing ICC tournaments.
He suggested that the inaugural iteration of the revived Champions League might focus on women’s cricket, potentially involving players from the WPL, the Hundred, and the WBBL.
Drawing parallels with club-based international competitions in football, Cummins highlighted the pivotal phase cricket is currently navigating. He emphasized the need to balance international and club-based tournaments, emphasizing the potential for matchups like Melbourne Stars versus Karachi Kings or Mumbai Indians versus Melbourne Stars to elevate the sport’s global appeal.
Expressing the eagerness for a global spectacle, Cummins envisioned the impact of the Champions League’s revival, drawing parallels to the excitement generated by events like the FIFA Champions League in football.
He also expressed the aspiration to see Indian players participating in tournaments like the Big Bash, underlining the potential for collaborations between cricketing leagues to enrich the sport further.
As talks continue to gain momentum, the cricketing world eagerly awaits further developments in the potential resurgence of the Champions League T20. This tournament promises to reignite the enthusiasm of club-based international cricket.
