Cricket is gearing up for a major global shake-up as the Champions League T20 format is set to return – this time with a new identity. Reports suggest the revamped competition will be called the World Club Championship, bringing together the winners of the world’s top T20 franchise leagues in a blockbuster tournament format.

Several sources have indicated that the event will take place in 2026, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) being two of the most invested in the revival. Furthermore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also given support to the idea, signalling its desire to take club T20 cricket globally.

Participating Leagues in the Inaugural Edition:

However, there’s a major omission. No team from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will feature in the first edition, reportedly due to Pakistan Cricket Board’s absence from a key meeting held in London. The meeting, hosted under the ICC’s umbrella, was attended by representatives of all the major T20 leagues, including the Emirates League, SA20, CPL, and more. The Lahore Qalandars, the reigning PSL champions, will miss out.

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ECB CEO Richard Gould, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo, confirmed that the tournament is indeed "on the cards" for both men and women, calling it “the next logical step” for the evolution of franchise cricket.

The World Club Championship is also reportedly being fast-tracked to counter the emergence of the Saudi Cricket League, a high-budget T20 initiative backed by a reported USD 400 million investment. Saudi plans to model their league on the tennis Grand Slam format, but opposition from top cricket boards like the BCCI and ECB – who are unlikely to grant NOCs to their players – has already created roadblocks.

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With nearly every cricketing nation now boasting a franchise T20 league, a unified global competition makes strategic sense. It not only provides a global stage for top-performing teams but also gives players from emerging leagues – like those in the UAE and USA – a golden opportunity to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite.

A Global Reboot of Franchise Cricket's Biggest Stage

The concept closely mirrors the now-defunct Champions League T20, which ran from 2009 to 2014. That tournament saw top clubs from the IPL, BBL, South Africa’s Ram Slam, and others compete in a high-stakes, intercontinental format. The new World Club Championship aims to revive that legacy – but with a more inclusive, globally aligned structure.

Though the exact format and schedule are still under discussion, the World Club Championship is likely to:

• Feature winners (or top teams) from each major T20 league
  
• Rotate venues globally
  
• Feature both men’s and women’s editions in the long run
  
• Be supported by strong broadcast and commercial deals
  

The stage is now being set for what could become cricket’s ultimate franchise showdown. With most of the cricketing world on board and ICC backing secured, the World Club Championship promises to redefine the global T20 calendar – and spark new rivalries along the way.

Just after India earned the T20 World Cup 2007 title, the landscape of the shortest format changed in a span of three years to 2009. The blue brigade’s successful foundation of the franchise-based T20 league, known as the Indian Premier League (IPL), brought several changes to the game. It created different opportunities for the board, the players, and the fans of the sport.

 In 2008, the three boards, the BCCI, Cricket Australia (CA), and Cricket South Africa (CSA), partnered to found the Champions League T20 (CLT20). They officially launched the league. However, delays were caused by the postponement of the event in 2009, and in September of that year, the first-ever edition took place in India.

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The league is nearly similar to the UEFA Champions League in football. The plan was to have the best T20 teams from the best cricketing nations for the ultimate prize. The last season of the competition was played in 2014 and was eventually scrapped due to the low viewership numbers and the surprising financial losses. In the last season, it was a 10-team tournament.

History of the Champions Trophy T20 (CLT20) till the 2014 season

In the opening season of the tournament, 12 teams participated from seven countries. The top three teams from the IPL, the champions and the runners-up, each from Australia, South Africa, and the Champions of West Indies, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, came into the event. With more overs to progress, more teams participated in the leagues to make it more structured.

Only the teams of India, South Africa, and Australia got the direct qualification. In the last season of the tournament, none of the franchises of Pakistan participated. The England players didn’t get the chance to participate due to the clash with their domestic season.

In the first season of the tournament during 2009/10, New South Wales became the champions, while the Chennai Super Kings earned the title in 2010/11. Mumbai Indians won the title next year, followed by the Sydney Sixers. Mumbai again became the champions in the 2013/14 season before the MS Dhoni-led side celebrated the trophy in the very last season of the tournament. However, it may return now, last year in September.

On June 4, 2017, team India won their Champions Trophy campaign, defeating the arch rivals Pakistan by a huge margin. In the rain-struck match, Team India outclassed Pakistan and won the match by 124 runs through the DLS method. The match in Edgbaston started under a cloudy sky, and according to the weather forecast, rain came to join the party. 

India was on top of their game from the beginning. Rohit Sharma could've easily gotten his ODI hundred if he didn't get run out. After his 91-run knock, Shikhar Dhawan (68), captain Virat Kohli (81*), Yuvraj Singh (53), and Hardik Pandya (20*) through their collective effort, guided the team total to 319 for 3 in 48 overs. Later, through the DLS method, the target was reduced to 289 in 41 overs. 

Despite the reducing targets, Pakistan was way more behind than India. Pakistan, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, ended their innings with only 164 runs after losing all of their men within the allocated overs. 

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Yuvraj Singh was chosen man of the match for his quick-paced 32-ball, 53-run innings. On the other side, apart from Azhar Ali, Pakistan failed to produce any blistering innings. Ali solidified one side of the wicket with his 50-run innings facing 65 balls. Umesh Yadav, who took 3 scalps, and the rest of the Indian bowling line-up caused the Pakistan batting line-up to collapse. Pandya and Jadeja claimed a brace each. 

Pakistan lost the match after playing 33.4 overs and scoring 164 runs. India won the match by 124 runs. But they weren't able to win the championship despite getting a spot in the final match. 

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.

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- 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]

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“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 cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as discussions resurface regarding the revival of the Champions League T20 (CLT20) tournament. After a decade-long hiatus, cricket boards from Australia, England, and India are actively engaged in negotiations to breathe new life into this prestigious competition. The prospect of the CLT20 making a comeback has sparked intrigue and speculation among fans and stakeholders alike.

History of CLT20

The CLT20 made its debut in 2009, heralding a new era of cricketing excellence and camaraderie. Over the course of six editions, the tournament showcased the finest talent from around the globe, pitting domestic champions against each other in a battle for supremacy. Teams from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia, and South Africa competed fiercely for the coveted title, captivating audiences with their skill and passion for the game.

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Factors Behind the Hiatus

Despite its initial success, the CLT20 faced challenges that ultimately led to its suspension after the 2014 edition. Issues such as scheduling conflicts, dwindling viewership, and logistical hurdles posed significant obstacles to the tournament’s sustainability. As a result, the organizers decided to put the CLT20 on hold, leaving cricket enthusiasts yearning for its return.

Revival Talks

The recent resurgence of interest in reviving the CLT20 can be attributed to the proactive efforts of cricket boards and officials. Discussions between Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have gained momentum. Key figures, such as Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins, have been vocal proponents of bringing back the CLT20.

“I think the Champions League was ahead of its time. The T20 landscape wasn’t mature enough at that point. I think it is now. I know that there’s active conversations between Cricket Australia, the ECB, and the BCCI about the Champions League,” Cummins said on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding its revival, the CLT20 faces several challenges that must be addressed. Finding a suitable window in the crowded cricket calendar. Accommodating international and domestic commitments, and ensuring widespread participation are among the primary concerns.

“It’s just trying to find a window as to when you actually play that, because you’ve also got all the ICC tournaments as well,” Cummins added.

Comparisons and Significance

Drawing parallels with club-based leagues in other sports, cricket enthusiasts envision the CLT20 as a platform for clubs to showcase their talent on an international stage. Similar to football’s UEFA Champions League, the CLT20 has the potential to foster intense rivalries.