T20 Champions League set for 2026 comeback with global backing
It will bring together title-winning teams from leading domestic T20 competitions
The Men’s T20 Champions League is reportedly on the verge of a major comeback, possibly as soon as September 2026, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The revival plan was finalised during the ICC’s annual meeting in Singapore, with the tournament receiving backing from several influential cricket boards.
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Originally launched in 2008, the T20 Champions League ran until 2014 before being discontinued, largely due to financial losses. ESPN Star had invested close to $1 billion in media rights, but the tournament failed to gain sustained traction.
Cricket Australia, the BCCI, and Cricket South Africa were the original partners in the event. Since its last edition, the global T20 landscape has shifted dramatically, with numerous leagues emerging across the world.
One of the key challenges in bringing the Champions League back will be deciding which franchise each player will represent.
Many of the world’s leading T20 players now feature in multiple leagues—sometimes up to four or five annually. The ICC and participating nations will need to resolve questions around player commitments and revenue distribution for the reimagined league.
There is also reportedly interest from Saudi Arabia, which is lobbying for a broader T20 circuit and may also emerge as a host for the rebranded Champions League. Saudi involvement could play a strategic role in the tournament’s future direction.
A previous report from The Cricketer hinted that the tournament could return under a new name—World Club Championship—by 2026.
It would likely follow a format similar to the original Champions League T20 (CLT20), bringing together title-winning teams from leading domestic T20 competitions like the IPL, Big Bash League, PSL, BPL, SA20, and The Hundred.
Both the BCCI and ECB are reportedly supportive of the concept, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah also backing the initiative.
