Cricket Launches $5m Champions League

The ECB, in partnership with its counterparts in Australia, India and South Africa, has announced the creation of a new Cricket Champions League featuring the top domestic sides from each nation competing for a $5m purse.

The agreement will see the first Champions League tournament, based on the Twenty20 format of the game, involve eight teams playing 15 matches in a 10 day period in late September and early October in either the Middle East or India.

The prize money for the winners has been set at $5m with significant sums for the teams finishing second, third and fourth.

The two county teams featuring in England’s Twenty20 Cup final will join Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings from India, the Titans from Pretoria and KwaZulu Natal Dolphins representing South Africa and Western Australian and Victoria from Australia in the Champions League.

The various governing bodies will now set about attracting commercial partners and broadcasters to the proposition which is expected to provide significant revenues to the participating teams and players.
 
The venture is the ECB’s first response to the creation of the Indian Premier League as the commercial attraction of Twenty20 cricket begins to have its effect.

Some critics have pointed to the increased emphasis on Twenty20 as being detrimental to the Test format of the game with players naturally lured towards the huge financial incentives provided by the IPL and the new Champions League.

The ECB seems likely to increase player bonuses for Test cricket as a response to this issue.

The governing body is also still in negotiations with Texan businessman Sir Allen Stanford with regard to a one-off winner takes all one-day game.