Back from the Pavilion: CLT20 Tees Up a Grand Return

Marking the culmination of a decade long hiatus, the Champions League T20 will come back in a big way in September 2026, rekindling international rivalries among top franchise sides. The move was formally agreed at the ICC's annual meeting in Singapore with a unanimous agreement of the leading cricket nations.

Main points:

The tournament will be renamed the World Club Championship, with the top clubs from IPL, PSL, BBL, SA20, CPL, The Hundred, and MLC.

The first CLT20 was held between 2009 and 2014 but was suspended due to monetary losses and scheduling conflicts

The new format will feature six champion teams, and window, format, and player availability talks are ongoing

Saudi Arabia has been said to be in talks to host the tournament, introducing a new geographic and monetary dimension to international cricket

Format and challenges

Overlapping of franchises creates a paradox: players signed to more than one league can experience choice issues

The ICC is working on a model for viability and fair representation at a commercial level

The tournament will try to replicate football's UEFA Champions League, with a club-world championship for cricket fans

Broader implications:

CLT20's return will reshuffle the global T20 calendar and impact worldwide fixtures

Meanwhile, the ICC is considering a two-tier Test structure, with concerns for the future of red-ball cricket

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, IndiaTV News, MSN India, NewsBytes, ProBatsman, Hindustan Times, Cricket.com, Zee News, Khel Now, CricTrends