The long-discontinued Champions League T20 (CLT20) will be replaced by a new, international competition called the World Club Championship in 2026.
With the goal of attracting champion teams from the top T20 leagues worldwide, the competition is intended to be larger, bolder, and more inclusive, providing spectators with an incredible display of interleague matches.
According to a source from The Cricketer, franchise winners from major leagues including the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL), SA20, and The Hundred are anticipated to compete in the international tournament.
Leading cricketing organisations, such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, have already expressed their strong support for the planned competition.
In keeping with the evolving character of the modern format, the ECB has made it clear that it intends to send the Hundred champion squad, not the Blast, to represent England.
In addition to confirming that World Club Championship preparations are almost complete, ECB CEO Richard Gould made a suggestion about the possibility of a future women’s tournament.
“That is anticipated. There will undoubtedly be a World Club Championship for both men and women at some point. The next logical step is that,” Gould stated.
It is anticipated that the forthcoming World Club Championship will follow the same structure as the first Champions League T20 (CLT20). When it first started in 2009, it brought together the best domestic T20 teams from different countries.
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