T20 Champions League set to return after ICC green light, first match could be in September 2026: Report

The Men's Twenty20 Champions League is all set to be relaunched and could make its return as early as September next year, according to a report by Australia based The Sydney Morning Herald. The decision was reportedly finalized after the tournametn got the backing of key countries at the ICC's annual conference in Signapore. 

Notably, the first edition of the T20 Champions League was introduced in 2008 and it lasted until the 2014 when ESPN Star reportedly cut its losses after paying an inflated rights fee of about $1 billion for the event. Cricket Australia, BCCI and Cricket South Africa were partners for the event but ther have been a lot of T20 leagues coming up since the end of last Champions League. 

The report states that one of the biggest challenges for the Champions League will be determining which clubs the players to choose to play for. It estimates that world's top T20 players take part in at least two and as much as four for five different leagues every year. 

ICC and the partner countries would then have to decide which teams these cricketers will play for in the upcoming league. It also remains to be decided how the finances of the new league will be split

Meanwhile, the report also states that lobbying is underway for a parallel concept where a cicrcuit of T20 tournaments are hosted around the world bankrolled by Saudi Arabia. However, it notes that Saudi Arabia future role could be as a potential host for the Champions League. 

The report suggested that BCCI and ECB are onboad with the idea of the new league and ICC Chairman Jay Shah has also lent his weight behind the T20 competition.