Big Three in talks to revive Champions League T20 tourney

MUMBAI: With professional Twenty20 leagues now thriving in most top cricket playing nations, there is a move to revive the Champions League, a club-based international T20 competition. The last edition of the CLT20 was held in India in 2014. “I know that there’s 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,” said Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins, who is aware of the conversations taking place between t he three biggest boards in international cricket. Cummins was speaking to the media during the announcement of Cricket Victoria’s partnership with Khelomore to launch the Melbourne Cricket Academy in India. With the partnership between KheloMore, founded by former India cricketer and national selector, Jatin Paranjape, and Cricket Victoria, the initiative aims to provide quality, structured cricket training programs in India.

Cummins said he has been in regular talks with CA’S CEO Nick Hockley for the revival of CLT20. He said that BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s statement will be important on it. “I’m constantly talking to Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO, for a Champions League, because I think it’s pretty important to bring that back,” he said.

“It’s probably a question to ask Jay Shah (BCCI secretary). But certainly, from an Australia cricket perspective, we are very open to the idea of the Champions League. It’s just about finding a window in the FTP, but I think that’s the next step in the evolution of cricket,” he added.

While the Indian Premier League has the bragging rights for being the most competitive T20 tournament in the world due to the big money involved, there is no way to actually judge the top T20 franchise. Hence, the Champions League tournament, set up on the basis of the club competition in European football conducted by the UEFA will act as an ideal tournament between top teams of T20 leagues from countries like India, Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh.

“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.”

Former Australia limited overs player David Hussey was also present at the event in his capacity as head of Cricket Victoria’s coaching program.