ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): After nearly a decade, the Champions League T20 is making a grand comeback with a brand-new look. The highly anticipated tournament, now rebranded as the World Club Championship, is set to kick off in 2026 and will bring together the world’s top T20 franchise teams.
The decision, finalized at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore, marks a significant step towards uniting the world’s top T20 franchises in a single, high-stakes tournament. The tournament is expected to begin as early as September 2026.
The Champions League T20 was last held in 2014 and featured top clubs from India, Australia, South Africa, and other cricketing nations. Despite the strong lineups, the event failed to gain long-term traction due to poor TV ratings and scheduling conflicts. However, the growing success and popularity of domestic T20 leagues have reignited interest in a global franchise-based showdown.
This revamped version of the Champions League T20 will feature champions from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), The Hundred, SA20, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), ILT20, and Major League Cricket (MLC). The aim is to create a true world championship among club teams, something fans have been demanding for years.
Officials from major cricket boards, including the ICC, BCCI, and ECB, have expressed strong support for the revival. ECB CEO Richard Gould called it “the next logical step” in the evolution of modern cricket. The tournament’s organizers are optimistic, though challenges remain. Key concerns include managing a packed cricket calendar, player workload, and revenue distribution between boards and franchises.
However, the explosive growth of franchise cricket in recent years has reignited interest in a global club competition, and the ICC now believes the time is right for a revival.
One of the key issues facing the new Champions League will be the distribution of revenue and the alignment of player commitments. With top players now participating in multiple leagues across the world, determining which teams and players will feature in the tournament is expected to be a complex process.
The Champions League T20 revival signals a new era of international club cricket, one that blends the energy of domestic leagues with the prestige of global competition. While official schedules and hosting rights are yet to be finalized, excitement is already building among fans and players worldwide.
