CLT20 is coming back!

The latest buzz in cricket circles is about reviving the Champions League T20 (CLT20), which was last held 10 years ago. Discussions are brewing among cricketing nations like Australia, England, and India regarding the possibility of bringing back this tournament. Leading the discussions is Nick Cummins, the Chief Executive of Cricket Victoria, who wonders if there's a window available in the busy cricket schedule to reintroduce the CL T20.

Cummins expressed his thoughts at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday (April 2nd), stating, "I believe the Champions League was ahead of its time. Back then, T20 cricket wasn't as developed. I think now it could work."

"I know there's a lot of discussion about the Champions League among Cricket Australia, ECB, and BCCI," he added.

The last CL T20 was held in India in 2014, where Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament featured three teams from India, two each from South Africa and Australia, and one each from Pakistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies.

From 2009 to 2014, the tournament was held once every year. It was hosted in India four times and in South Africa twice. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have both won the trophy twice, while New South Wales and Sydney Sixers have won it once each.

Cummins suggests that cricket should follow the model of club-based tournaments like football, where clubs and international cricket are seamlessly integrated. He further stated, "The reality is, there's no T20 competition where the best players play. In the IPL, there are no Pakistani cricketers. So, there's no real competition where the best players compete against each other. The Champions League could be a way for the best to play against each other."