Champions League T20 to return as World Club Championship? ECB chief reacts
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is exploring the viability of a revamped World Club Championship for T20 cricket, after more than a decade since the final edition of the defunct Champions League T20 (CLT20). The final edition of the CLT20 took place in 2014 with CSK defeating KKR in the summit clash in Bengaluru. The tournament started 2009 before going defunct in 2014. advertisementSeveral countries have launched their own franchise leagues in the past few years, including England (The Hundred), South Africa (SA20), the UAE (ILT20) and the United States (MLC). In other sports as well, we have seen new club-based leagues come up with the FIFA Club World Cup being revamped and Rugby union getting ready to launch their own Club World Cup. Also Read: Pataudi Trophy renamed Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy for India vs England Tests: Report
While the plans are still at an early stage, the ECB are interested in bringing in a CLT20-type tournament. Richard Gould, the board chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo that he feels that the Club Championship, for both men and women, could be the next logical step for the evolution of the sport. "That is on the cards," Gould said. "Without doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship - for both men and women. That's the next logical step."advertisementThe CLT20 was run by the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa and was discontinued as the organisers said that its limited public following as the main reason behind the tournament's demise apart from the commercial aspect. However, Gould feels that the tournament was ahead of its time and was a really good event. "That tournament was ahead of its time," he said. "Commercially, it couldn't keep up with the expectations on it, but it was a really good event."The World Club Championship will require support from eight of the 10 IPL teams as they have investments in teams in other countries as well. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal had hinted that the BCCI could look into the Club Championship if it can create value for the game.
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