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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Champions League T20 set for dramatic 2026 return but ICC could deliver crushing blow to Test cricket's future: Report
Cricket appears to be racing toward a new era of structural upheaval. Even as the men's T20 Champions League edges closer to a blockbuster relaunch as early as September 2026, the ICC is also weighing a decision that could drastically alter the future of the longest format: limiting the number of Test-playing nations. Chennai Super Kings won the 2014 CLT20 title(X/ChennaiIPL) According to The Sydney Morning Herald, several influential cricket boards have voiced support for reviving the Champions League T20 (CLT20) during the ICC's ongoing meeting in Singapore. The now-defunct tournament, which ran from 2009 to 2014, had featured top T20 franchises from around the world in a format modelled on UEFA's Champions League. Though scrapped a decade ago due to financial unviability, most notably after the withdrawal of broadcaster ESPN Star, the rapid commercialisation of T20 leagues globally has created fertile ground for its return. If finalised, the new tournament version will face a different kind of challenge: deciding the player pool. As franchise owners now span multiple leagues and players are contracted across competitions, the ICC will have to iron out complex eligibility rules. The report also noted that logistical and funding decisions remain pending, although momentum for the tournament's revival is clearly building. Test cricket facing limitations In stark contrast to this push for glitz and franchise expansion, Test cricket could soon be subject to a cutback. The same ICC meeting is reportedly exploring a cap on the number of Test-playing nations, which could mark a decisive shift in cricket's priorities. A working group, including ICC's new chief executive Sanjog Gupta and chaired by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, has been tasked with recommending a roadmap by the end of the year. Gupta, speaking at Lord's last year during the MCC's World Cricket Connects panel, hinted at the changes to come. 'You have to make hard choices,' he had said. 'There is enough data to suggest what direction the game is going in. If you continue to serve a product that no one wants... the ecosystem around the product will continue to suffer. Blackberry disappeared at some point... it was replaced by another product.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Champions League T20 Set To Be Relaunched; ICC Mulls Two-Tier Test Structure
A men's Champions League Twenty20 is set to be reintroduced as early as September next year, following strong support from key member nations at the International Cricket Council's (ICC) annual conference held in Singapore, as per The Sydney Morning Herald. The future of Test cricket is also up for discussion, with talks of introducing a two-division format gaining traction. The ICC has now formalised a working group to rework the global cricket calendar starting from 2027, and a decision regarding Test cricket's structure could be taken before the year ends, according to sources familiar with the closed-door discussions. There is a growing belief that the number of nations playing Test cricket might be capped. Only a handful of countries are able to generate revenue from the traditional format, and several others lack the infrastructure and systems to consistently build strong Test sides. Among those part of the ICC's calendar working group are Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Richard Gould, and the ICC's newly-appointed chief executive Sanjog Gupta. The group is expected to present interim findings to the ICC board, headed by Jay Shah, before the end of this year. Gupta, who earlier served as the head of sport at Indian broadcasting giant JioStar, was closely involved in a recent report on cricket's calendar compiled by the global players' body. He has also publicly stated that market demand will ultimately determine the volume of Test and international cricket played in the years to come. "You have to make hard choices," Gupta said on the MCC's World Cricket Connects panel at Lord's in 2023, as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald. "And there are very clear indicators of what fans want. There is enough data to suggest what direction the game is going in," he added. "If you continue to serve a product that no one wants, one - that product will continue to suffer; and, two - the ecosystem around the product will continue to suffer. Blackberry disappeared at some point. It was a device that all of us had, it was a device that all of us were in the bait of using, then it disappeared, and it was replaced by another product," he noted. The original T20 Champions League, which began in 2008, ran until 2014. It was eventually discontinued after ESPN Star, who had paid a hefty $1 billion for broadcasting rights decided to pull out, having initially missed out on securing the rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Back then, the league was partnered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia, and Cricket South Africa. Interestingly, the broadcast revenue from that deal also helped fund the early years of the Big Bash League, which has since become a major commercial success in Australia. Since those early days, the global T20 landscape has evolved massively. Today, many top players participate in multiple leagues throughout the year, sometimes even four or five different ones which will pose a major challenge for the Champions League's logistics and team selections. Discussions are still ongoing regarding how revenue from the new tournament will be shared. There's also a parallel push for a different T20 tournament circuit, potentially funded by Saudi Arabia. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
A T20 Champions League is coming, and so is crunch time for Test cricket
A men's Twenty20 Champions League will be relaunched as soon as September next year, after the tournament was backed by key member countries at the International Cricket Council's annual conference in Singapore. Test cricket's future and a possible split into two divisions may also be decided by the end of the year, after the ICC formalised a working group to reshape the game's calendar from 2027 onwards, according to two sources with knowledge of confidential discussions. There is now a distinct possibility that the number of Test playing countries may be capped, on the basis that only a few currently make money from the game's oldest format and that many nations do not have the resources to support the systems required for developing competitive Test teams. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg and Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board, will be among the eight members of the calendar working group, alongside the ICC's new chief executive Sanjog Gupta. It will be expected to present interim findings and recommendations to the ICC board, chaired by india's Jay Shah, before the end of this year. Loading Gupta, the former head of sport at the Indian broadcast giant JioStar, was involved in the recent report into cricket's calendar by the global players' body. But he has also expressed the view that the market will dictate how much Test and international cricket is played in the future. 'You have to make hard choices,' Gupta said on the MCC's World Cricket Connects panel at Lord's in 2023. 'And there are very clear indicators of what fans want. There is enough data to suggest what direction the game is going in. 'If you continue to serve a product that no one wants, one – that product will continue to suffer; and, two – the ecosystem around the product will continue to suffer. Blackberry disappeared at some point. It was a device that all of us had, it was a device that all of us were in the bait of using, then it disappeared, and it was replaced by another product.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
A T20 Champions League is coming, and so is crunch time for Test cricket
A men's Twenty20 Champions League will be relaunched as soon as September next year, after the tournament was backed by key member countries at the International Cricket Council's annual conference in Singapore. Test cricket's future and a possible split into two divisions may also be decided by the end of the year, after the ICC formalised a working group to reshape the game's calendar from 2027 onwards, according to two sources with knowledge of confidential discussions. There is now a distinct possibility that the number of Test playing countries may be capped, on the basis that only a few currently make money from the game's oldest format and that many nations do not have the resources to support the systems required for developing competitive Test teams. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg and Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board, will be among the eight members of the calendar working group, alongside the ICC's new chief executive Sanjog Gupta. It will be expected to present interim findings and recommendations to the ICC board, chaired by india's Jay Shah, before the end of this year. Loading Gupta, the former head of sport at the Indian broadcast giant JioStar, was involved in the recent report into cricket's calendar by the global players' body. But he has also expressed the view that the market will dictate how much Test and international cricket is played in the future. 'You have to make hard choices,' Gupta said on the MCC's World Cricket Connects panel at Lord's in 2023. 'And there are very clear indicators of what fans want. There is enough data to suggest what direction the game is going in. 'If you continue to serve a product that no one wants, one – that product will continue to suffer; and, two – the ecosystem around the product will continue to suffer. Blackberry disappeared at some point. It was a device that all of us had, it was a device that all of us were in the bait of using, then it disappeared, and it was replaced by another product.'
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Virat Kohli chooses quiet and peaceful time with Anushka Sharma, Vamika and Akaay in London amidst India's test match against England: Report
Virat Kohli is currently in London with Anushka Sharma and their children. He is taking a break from cricket during the India-England Test series. The family is reportedly staying in Notting Hill. Kohli is enjoying a low-profile life, away from the public eye. He was also offered a chance to play for Middlesex County. Virat Kohli may have stepped away from Test cricket, but he hasn't stepped out of the spotlight entirely. As India battles England in an ongoing Test series, the cricket icon has opted for a quiet retreat in London with wife Anushka Sharma and their two children, Vamika and Akaay. Choosing family time and privacy over packed stadiums and cricketing chaos, Kohli is embracing a slower pace of life—far from the frenzy that usually surrounds him back home. According to reports, the Kohli-Sharma family has headed to London, choosing to stay under the radar. Virat is reportedly keeping a low profile, living just a few miles from the stadium where he once dominated the pitch. As per The Telegraph, Vamika's dad is intentionally keeping his distance from the ongoing cricket action, even though he's just a short distance away from the stadium where the Shubman Gill-led Indian team is facing off against England. Kohli also gave the World Test Championship final a miss, along with skipping the MCC's World Cricket Connects symposium held at the stadium. While Virat Kohli has carved his name as one of India's greatest batsmen—shattering records and rewriting history—his personal sanctuary lies far from home, in the quiet corners of London. The cricketer and his actress-wife Anushka Sharma are often seen enjoying the city's simple pleasures—taking strolls, dining out, and even riding the Tube. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo It's a kind of normalcy that would be nearly impossible back in India, given their towering celebrity status. The cricketer has often expressed his fondness for the privacy he enjoys abroad, calling it 'one of the reasons to settle on foreign soil.' According to reports, Virat, along with Anushka, Vamika, and baby Akaay, is currently residing in London's upscale Notting Hill neighborhood. Despite his fiery and passionate persona on the field, Virat Kohli maintains a quiet, grounded, and minimal lifestyle off it—especially when abroad. Speaking of cricket, Kohli was reportedly offered a chance to play a season by Middlesex County, but he has yet to respond to the invitation. The last time fans saw him on the field was donning the RCB jersey, celebrating the team's long-awaited title win.
