Champions League t20
The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) was an international T20 cricket tournament that featured the top domestic teams from various cricket-playing nations. It was organized jointly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA), and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
Key Features of the Champions League T20
- The tournament included franchise teams that won or finished as runners-up in their respective domestic T20 leagues.
- It was played in a round-robin and knockout format, similar to the ICC tournaments.
- The event was held annually from 2009 to 2014 before being discontinued due to low viewership and sponsorship issues.
History & Winners of CLT20 (2009–2014)
The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) tournament was held from 2009 to 2014, with various host countries and thrilling finals.
In 2009, the tournament was hosted by India, where New South Wales Blues from Australia emerged victorious by defeating Trinidad & Tobago from the West Indies. NSW won the final by 41 runs.
The 2010 edition took place in South Africa. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from India clinched the title by beating the Warriors from South Africa. CSK won convincingly by 8 wickets.
In 2011, the event returned to India, and the Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore, also from India, with a 31-run victory in the final.
South Africa hosted the tournament again in 2012, where Sydney Sixers from Australia put up a dominant performance to beat the Highveld Lions (South Africa) by a massive 10 wickets.
In 2013, India once again hosted the tournament. The Mumbai Indians won their second CLT20 title, defeating the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in the final.
Finally, in 2014, also hosted in India, the Chennai Super Kings claimed the title for the second time, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets in a memorable all-Indian final.
Why Was CLT20 Discontinued?
- Low Audience Interest: Viewership was not as high as expected.
- Too Many Cricket Leagues: Clash with other T20 leagues, especially the IPL.
- Financial Issues: Sponsors and broadcasters found it less profitable.
Even though Champions League Twenty 20 is no longer held, many fans still remember it as an exciting tournament that brought together the best domestic T20 teams from around the world.