In what could be the most significant shake-up to the T20 landscape since the birth of the IPL, the long-dormant Champions League T20 is primed for a comeback.
According to The Cricketer, the defunct competition will be rebranded as the World Club Championship and will debut in 2026, promising a blockbuster showdown among the planet’s top franchise sides.
The original Champions League T20 ran from 2009 to 2014, introducing audiences to mouth-watering contests between domestic champions from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, and beyond. It was an ambitious project, but poor television ratings and a crowded international schedule eventually led to its demise.
More than a decade later, the cricketing environment has radically transformed. Almost every cricketing nation now boasts its own high-profile T20 league, from the Big Bash and the PSL to the CPL, ILT20, and Major League Cricket. With unprecedented commercial interest and a global appetite for franchise rivalries, the time looks ripe for a cross-border tournament that can finally live up to its potential.
While official details are still emerging, reports suggest the new World Club Championship will retain the core idea of the CLT20: to crown the best domestic T20 team on the planet. But this time, the field is expected to be broader and more diverse, with champions from up to a dozen leagues potentially in the mix.
Franchises from the IPL, BBL, PSL, SA20, The Hundred, CPL, and even ILT20 and MLC are all understood to be in line for inclusion.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, ECB CEO Richard Gould left little doubt that this was coming:
“That is on the cards. Without doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That’s the next logical step.”
The tournament has also received the backing of ICC chairman Jay Shah and the BCCI, the latter a crucial partner given the IPL’s unmatched financial clout.
But the road ahead will not be without challenges. Usual questions remain over scheduling, player workload, and the revenue-sharing model between boards, leagues, and franchises. With a packed cricket calendar and player burnout an ever-present concern, organisers will need to strike a delicate balance to make the tournament viable long-term.
The talk of Champions League T20’s revival comes at a time when franchise cricket has never been stronger. In addition to established leagues, newer competitions like the ILT20, MLC, and SA20 have quickly gained traction and attracted top talent. The appetite for cross-league competition is only growing.
If everything goes to plan, fans could soon watch the Lahore Qalandars testing themselves against the Oval Invincibles and Royal Challengers Bangalore, all in one place.
Whether the World Club Championship can finally deliver on the promise that eluded the Champions League T20 will be one of the sport’s most intriguing stories in the years ahead.