| MUMBAI:
After the completion of the second season of Indian Premier League (IPL) in South
Africa, the BCCI and the official broadcaster ESPN Star Sports are now gearing
up for the inaugural season of Champions League Twenty20. The
tournament will be held from 8-23 October, and a total of 23 matches will be played
among 12 teams. The three founder members - BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket
South Africa - announced the itinerary at a press conference in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The
series' first edition was originally scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Bangalore
and Chennai from 3 to 10 December 2008, but was postponed in view of the terror
attacks on Mumbai on 26 November. The
inaugural season will see Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers and Delhi
Daredevils representing India in the tournament.
Victoria and New South Wales will represent Australia and the Cobras and Eagles
will represent South Africa. Champions
League T20 chairman Lalit Modi said, "In the CLT20, I believe we have a concept
that will inspire and motivate the future generations of club, state and county
cricketers, while accelerating the development of the game globally."
| | "The
inaugural edition did not take place last year due to unfortunate circumstances
but we are fully equipped this time around to conduct a successful tournament
in India and given the | (Starting
from left) Anil Kumble, Manu Sawhney, Lalit Modi, Srinivas Bommidala, Adam Gilchrist. | |
collaboration of our fellow cricket boards from Australia and South Africa and
ESS, I am confident that this will be a true global event the scale of which the
cricketing world has not seen outside of the World Cups," Modi added. The
inaugural season of Champions League Twenty20 will carry a prize of $6 million.
ESPN
Star Sports (ESS) holds the 10-year rights for the Champions League T20 for $975
million. ESS
MD Manu Sawhney said, "The Champions League Twenty20 is a marquee global
tournament where only the top T20 club teams from various domestic leagues from
top cricketing nations qualify to compete for the greatest honor, to be adjudged
as champion of champions. Today, we are the biggest stakeholder in the game of
cricket globally and with our strong brands, we are well placed to fully leverage
and exploit multiple opportunities across platforms and markets. We are confident
that Champions League Twenty 20 has all the necessary ingredients of a blockbuster
property." Also
Read: Champions
League T20 inaugural edition moves to 2009 | 
