ECB Looks at Bringing Back Global T20 Club Tournament

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is thinking about starting a new World Club Championship for T20 cricket. It’s been over ten years since the last Champions League T20 (CLT20) was held. The CLT20 ran from 2009 to 2014. Its final match was in Bengaluru in 2014, where Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament stopped because not enough people were interested, and it didn’t make enough money.

Since then, many countries have started their own T20 leagues. England has The Hundred, South Africa has the SA20, the UAE has the ILT20, and the United States has the MLC. In other sports, too, club tournaments are growing. Football’s FIFA Club World Cup is getting a new format, and rugby is planning its own Club World Cup. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said they’re very interested in creating a tournament like the old CLT20.

🚨 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 🚨

- CLT20 is set to return as the World Club Championship in 2026. 🤯

- ECB and ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI are actively working on the idea. [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠]

MASSIVE GOOD NEWS FOR CRICKET LOVERS..! 😍 pic.twitter.com/NSpEWVhI39

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) July 1, 2025

“That is on the cards,” Gould told ESPNcricinfo. “Without doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That’s the next logical step.” Gould also said the old CLT20 was a good idea but came too early. “That tournament was ahead of its time,” he said. “Commercially, it couldn’t keep up with expectations, but it was a really good event.”

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For this new World Club Championship to work, most of the IPL teams would need to support it. Many IPL owners already have teams in other countries. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has said that the BCCI might support the idea if it can bring real value to the game.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still awaiting confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh in August. BCB president Aminul Islam revealed that although discussions have been encouraging, the final decision from the BCCI is pending approval from the Indian government. He made the comments at a conference in Dhaka after a six-hour board of directors meeting.

Aminul noted that the tour, which consists of limited-overs matches in August, is still tentatively on. However, uncertainty persists due to undisclosed reasons, and the BCCI has conveyed to the BCB that an alternative window will be considered if August is not feasible. The BCB chief emphasized that the conversations so far have been cooperative and constructive.

While there is hope the tour will go ahead as planned, the BCB is also prepared for a possible postponement. According to Aminul, India remains committed to touring Bangladesh, even if it has to be rescheduled. The original tour plan announced in April included six matches across Mirpur and Chattogram—three ODIs and three T20Is.

India’s Tour of Bangladesh Awaits Government Clearance, Says BCB Chief

“I have already spoken to the BCCI. Discussions have been positive,” Aminul said. “We remain hopeful. It is scheduled [next month], but they are waiting for some decisions from the government.”

See Also: India set to make some shocking changes for upcoming ENG vs IND 2nd Test

“The discussions are ongoing. If for some reason they can't come [in August], they will come at the next available window. We are hopeful of playing in this window. I can't say much apart from the fact that they are very professional and cooperative.”

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by former cricket administrator Lalit Modi, who had sought an order directing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay a penalty of Rs 10.65 crore imposed on him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). A bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan stated that Modi is free to pursue civil remedies as per the law.

Earlier, on December 19 last year, the Bombay High Court had rejected Modi's petition and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh, labeling his plea as “frivolous and wholly misconceived.” The court pointed out that the penalty was imposed on Modi personally by the adjudication authority under FEMA, and the BCCI could not be held liable.

Modi, in his petition, had argued that he served as the BCCI vice president and was also the chairman of the Indian Premier League governing body during the relevant period. He claimed that under the BCCI’s bylaws, the board was obligated to indemnify him against penalties arising from actions undertaken in his official capacity.

Court Upholds Previous Rulings Against Modi's Claims

The Bombay High Court, while referring to a 2005 Supreme Court judgment, reiterated that the BCCI was not a 'state' under Article 12 of the Constitution and therefore determined that no writ could issue against the BCCI for indemnification against the ED's penalties.

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“In matters of alleged indemnification of the petitioner (Modi) in the context of penalties imposed upon the petitioner by the ED, there is no question of discharge of any public function, and therefore, for this purpose, no writ could be issued to the BCCI,” the HC had said. Dismissing the petition, the court further directed Modi to pay Rs 1 lakh to the Tata Memorial Hospital within four weeks.

Another proud moment for Indian cricket. Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been named in the list of Open Minds 2025 under the Public Square category. In the list, Shah is one of the youngest candidates to be named. 

On June 27, 2025, 'Open' issued their 16th anniversary edition, where they listed multiple successful personalities from various fields. Jay Shah, in this edition, is labeled as the 'Master of the Game.' Jay Shah's career as a cricket board official started with the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA). After being an executive board member of the Central Board of Cricket, Ahmedabad, starting in 2009, Shah became the joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) in September 2013.

From there, he marked his footprint in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and then in the ICC. Shah has come a long way. In 2015, he became a member of the finance and marketing committees of BCCI. In 2019, he was elected as the secretary of BCCI, the youngest of the five office bearers. In January 2021 (ACC), the Asian Cricket Council appointed Shah as the president. 

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Here's the piece about the journey of Jay Shah 

"As Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 2019 to 2024, Jay Shah had a superlative innings that included the successful hosting of the One Day International World Cup in India, raising the pay of women cricket­ers, steering Indian cricket through Covid, boosting financial revenues, and more. He then took over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman in December 2024 and has brought in the same efficiency," the article stated this about Jay Shah.

"The ICC Champions Trophy was executed to wide viewership. When the Indian team was apprehensive about security for a match against Pakistan in that country, the venue was shifted to the UAE quickly. And high on Shah’s agenda is the globalization of cricket and overseeing the sport becoming part of the next Olympics in 2028."

On June 29, 2024, Indian Cricket recorded one of the most glorious moments in its cricketing chapter. For the first time since 2007, India were crowned winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup that was jointly held by the United States (US) and the Caribbean nations. The Blues endured a memorable run and remained unbeaten throughout the entirety of the tournament to thump South Africa in a high-voltage final. 

At present, the Indian cricket team is in the UK to compete in a five-match test series against England. Amidst their busy schedule, team India took some time out to relive the unforgettable moment. Ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, the Indian Test team took a pause to celebrate the first anniversary of their triumphant victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. 

The team gathered around in a local restaurant in Birmingham, which featured some of the heroes from the final, such as Jadeja and Arshadeep. Two massive cakes were brought forward and placed on the table. One had the following inscription "Team India", while the other bore the words "Champions T20 WC 2024". Bumrah led from the front by doing the initial honors. After slicing the cake, the pieces were distributed to the rest of the players, who were gleefully seen feasting on it.  

See also: [WATCH] Rohit Sharma shares emotional video to commemorate India's glorious T20 WC title win

Watch the video:

In Birmingham, bringing in one-year anniversary of #TeamIndia's T20 World Cup 🏆 Triumph!

Core memory 🥹 pic.twitter.com/FUUjbKdnHN

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 29, 2025

The mood was light and festive. Despite suffering a demoralizing defeat in the Headingly Test, the players were seen having a light moment. This informal gathering was not merely a celebration of a trophy; it served as a reminder of the progress this group has made.

After enduring years of heartbreaks in the knockout stages of the ICC events, India eventually overcame the jinx in 2024, securing the silverware that had been out of reach for more than ten years. This moment was particularly gratifying for a generation of players who had borne the burden of expectation and disappointment throughout numerous campaigns.

As the dust settles on India's T20 World Cup anniversary, the attention now shifts to the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series, with the visitors currently trailing by 0-1. It remains to be seen whether this spirited reunion can give the team a much-needed spark to roll back the Bazball-led England in the upcoming Edgbaston Test. 

Rishab Pant's iconic somersault celebration has become quite a spectacle for the viewers of late. It's been his trademark celebration style, something which we have become far too familiar with these days. The 27-year-old has been seen performing these celebratory stunts whenever he gets to his century. 

He was first seen doing a somersault in this year's IPL edition when he smashed a century as the LSG captain. Moving on to the England tour, Rishab Pant hogged the limelight by becoming the first and only Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a century in both innings. He brought out his somersault moves again to celebrate his century on English soil.

Although many of his fans have looked at the funnier side of it, some have been worried about the long-term repercussions of this acrobatic style of celebration, especially after a near-fatal accident that almost claimed his life in 2022.

See also: 'I’ve only one request..' - Former Indian player urges Rishabh Pant to skip such celebration ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 2nd Test

Dr Pardiwala calls the somersault move unnecessary

Dr Pardiwala explains how lucky Pant has been to survive such a nasty car accident. While he adds that Pant is a well-trained gymnast and seems to be highly agile, in his opinion, such acts can be avoided. Furthermore, he urges Pant to err on the side of caution and encourages him to work more on upgrading his lifestyle.

“Rishabh trained as a gymnast. Although he looks large, he is quite agile, and he does have a lot of flexibility. “It’s a well-practised and perfected move – unnecessary though!”

Pant is a well-trained gymnast and has been training since a very early age. He even admitted that he can perform the somersault at any time of the day, even during the middle of his sleep. However, the horrendous car accident left him physically handicapped for a while, and he had to wait for weeks before regaining the skill.

Pant has seen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after recovering fully from the accident. The 27-year-old hit the ground running in the IPL 2024, just 14 months after the accident. And after smashing two back-to-back tons at Headingly, Pant is once again on the path to achieving stardom. 

June 29, 2024, is a day that will be etched in the minds and hearts of every ardent Indian cricket fan. On this day, India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy for the first time since 2007 by beating South Africa in an epic thriller. In a showdown where it all seemed to be getting out of hand, Rohit Shama & Co. scripted a miraculous comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Years of sorrow and heartbreak were finally put to rest as India clinched their maiden ICC title since 2013. 

To relive this glorious moment, the former Indian skipper posted a heartwarming video on his Twitter (Now X) account that has instantly won many hearts. Rohit himself was the center of attraction in that video, where he was heard saying that he was proud to have achieved something special. Besides, sporadic visuals of other cricketing icons such as Kohli, Axar, and Bumrah also surfaced from the video. 

See also: WATCH: Rohit Sharma spotted vacationing in Italy with wife Ritika Sajdeh amid India vs England Test series

Watch the video:

Instagram post of Captain Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma tried his best to include everyone in the video, but saar saar he is insecure.

pic.twitter.com/6bYlTq0PwC

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) June 29, 2025

India managed to remain unbeaten in that tournament and won all their games, including the final against South Africa. It was a terrific turnaround for the Men in Blue and a massive moment for the country. Not long ago, India faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 in their backyard. But Rohit's 'never-back-down' attitude helped India rise from the ashes and quash the knockout jinx once and for all.

India and South Africa locked horns in a high-voltage final in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both teams entered the final on the back of an unbeaten winning streak. The epic final saw a lot of fascinating moments. From Kohli's crucial fifty (albeit at a slower rate) to Suryakumar Yadav's match-winning catch, the match had everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Moreover, Bumrah's match-defining over, where he picked up two crucial wickets inside an over, probably proved to be a turning point in the game. With only 30 runs needed in the final five overs, no one would have anticipated India to make such a daring comeback. Bumrah emerged as a true hero in such a dire time and concluded the tournament as the highest wicket-taker maintaining an economy rate of less than 4.5 RPO.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) currently receives the largest portion of the International Cricket Council (ICC) revenue share out of all member boards. The ICC's latest financial model has earmarked 38.5% of revenue for the BCCI. This allocation has sparked enormous debate around the cricketing globe. With Team India being the most followed and most watched cricket team globally, the disproportionate distribution is often viewed as reflective of India’s dominance in the sport’s economics.

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has come out in full support of this arrangement. In a conversation with Wisden, Shastri strongly defended India’s revenue share and suggested that the BCCI deserves even more. “I absolutely agree (that India should get 38.5 percent). I would want more for India,” he said, endorsing the financial model that heavily favors India.

When asked to elaborate on his viewpoint, Shastri pointed to India’s unmatched revenue contribution to the sport. “Most of the money that is generated comes from India. So it's only fair that they get their pound of flesh,” he stated. He explained that economic trends often dictate such distributions and that India’s current economic weight in cricket justifies their dominant share. “And it's relative. It's economies. Tomorrow there might be another economy that's stronger, money might come from there like it did in the 1970s and 80s, and the chunk of the money goes somewhere else,” Shastri reasoned.

“It Shows in the Revenues”: Shastri on India’s Economic Impact

Shastri further underlined the importance of Indian cricket in driving viewership and revenue across the world. “I think it's only fair. It shows in the revenues. When India travels, look at the television rights and look at the television income that comes from an India series. So it's only fair that they get whatever they're getting now, if not more,” he said, reinforcing the idea that India’s economic power fuels the sport’s global operations.

See Also: "KL Rahul would play a major role...” – Former India coach reveals Rohit Sharma’s belief on KL Rahul prior to Champions Trophy 2025

Currently, India is playing a five-match Test series against England that carries extreme importance. And while the matches are being played, Shastri's comments have again thrust the economics of the game into the limelight, shining a broader light on how central India is to the future of world cricket.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishab Pant has seen an extraordinary turn in his fortunes. After a disappointing run in the cash-rich league of the IPL 2025 season, the Indian vice-captain announced his arrival in a blazing fashion in the first Test of the England tour. Pant was in scintillating form with the bat and unleashed his havoc on the inexperienced English bowling attack to score two centuries in the match.

The 27-year-old emerged as the second-highest run scorer in the first innings, scoring 134 (178). He played a crucial role in forming a robust 209-run partnership with Gill, which helped India establish a reasonable platform. However, he was more beligerant in his approach during the second innings, where he took 140  deliveries to score 118 runs, which involved 15 fours and three sixes. Notably, he emerged as the highest six getter for India in the innings and the second highest boundary getter after KL Rahul (18). 

On the back of such a sensational run in recent times, Pant has done what no other Indian wicketkeeper batter has ever managed to achieve in the past. In a ground-breaking development, Pant becomes the first Indian-wicket keeper batter to reach 800 rating points. Besides, while doing so, he also became the first Indian keeper to hit centuries in both Test innings. 

See also: ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 5: Major highlights and key performances

Pant reaches 800 ICC Rating Points to become India's most prolific wicketkeeper batter

RISHABH PANT BECOMES THE FIRST EVER INDIAN WICKETKEEPER TO REACH 800 RATING POINTS. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/eO4kLoaMhh

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 25, 2025

Pant deserves far more than a pat on his back for unearthing such a record-breaking achievement. He has been one of India's most dominating forces in red-ball cricket. He is certainly a true game-changer behind the stumps and with the bat. These achievements shed light on the passion, resilience, and brilliance he brings to the field of play. 

Quite understandably, the Indian fans were awestruck upon hearing this news and made their reactions go public on their Twitter account. Wishes poured in from different users, congratulating him endlessly for unraveling such a marvellous feat, while some prayed for his continued prosperity. 

Here are some of the major Twitter reactions:

HISTORY MADE! 🧤🔥

RISHABH PANT becomes the FIRST EVER Indian wicketkeeper to reach 800 rating points! 🇮🇳🙌
A true game-changer behind the stumps and with the bat! 🏏
This is not just a number—it’s a testament to his passion, resilience, and brilliance on the field! 💯

Take a… pic.twitter.com/EoJhNpRoEg

— Choudhary kapil (@Kapilmalik3011) June 25, 2025

RISHABH PANT MAKES HISTORY! 🔥🇮🇳

Becomes the first-ever Indian wicketkeeper to reach 800 rating points in Test cricket. 🧤💯

Fearless, flamboyant & phenomenal — Pant is redefining the role of a modern-day keeper-batter.#RishabhPant #INDvsENG #TestCricket #BharatKaBeta pic.twitter.com/szWL32nelX

— Saurabh Kumar (@iamsaurabh1818) June 25, 2025

RISHABH PANT BECOMES THE FIRST EVER INDIAN WICKETKEEPER TO REACH 800 RATING POINTS. 🇮🇳#INDvsENG

— Cricket fan's (@Cricketfan__77) June 25, 2025

🚨 RISHABH PANT MADE HISTORY 🚨

- Rishabh Pant becomes the first Indian WK batter to have 800 Ratings points in ICC Test batting Rankings. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FbMZc8x7BK

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 25, 2025

Unfortunately, Pant could not save the day since India could not set a stiff target due to lower-order negligence in both innings. As a result, England were able to chase down the target within the final moments of day five, taking a comfortable 1-0 lead in the process.

BCCI's move will surely provide fairness to children and also address the problems related to the authenticity of bone tests. Until now, girls aged between 12-15 years and boys aged between 14-16 years were screened for such tests before they could play in BCCI-organised age group competitions.

What is Bone Test in Cricket ?

The BCCI has made a plan to verify the 'bone age' through X-rays and add an additional year to it. This age will determine if the child is eligible to play. If a kid's bone age comes out as 14.8, the BCCI would adjust it to 15.8 which will make that kid eligible to play at the under-16 age group. On the other hand, he/she won't be able to play in the next season even if his/her real age is under 16.

This process won't be the same anymore as with the new change, if a player is still under the cutoff age as per documents, he/she can undergo a second bone test. If the player managed to pass this test, he/she can play in the age category.

These new steps highlight the popular belief. Bone tests have emerged as a game-changer due to their scientific reasons; they aren't accurate. The second test provides a level playing field for those who weren't satisfied with the first test.

Also Read:BCCI 2025–26: Ranji Trophy from Oct 15, T20 Knockouts Get New Format

Need for current changes 

Junior Cricket has faced age fraud for some years now, and there have been instances when parents themselves sent their younger child for bone tests to avoid being caught.

Higher-ups managed to nip this menace in the bud and made strict changes. Aadhar cards are now compulsory with new photographs, even before a child undergoes an X-ray.

How does BCCI's bone test functions?

BCCI officials visit state associations every year in the months of July and August to carry out the bone tests. There is a period for every State and players undergo bone testing at hospitals. In every state, 40-50 boys and 20-25 girls undergo the test. After the implementation of the new rule, players are given another chance without being unfair, and also, the cheats will be caught. Cricketers who might not have made it due to some minor error can get another while those who indulged in age fraud would be caught.