Just two years after the inception of the IPL, the cricket world witnessed the birth of the Champions League. It lasted for six years, but after the last edition in 2014, the tournament was discontinued. Since then, there has been no international tournament at the club level in cricket.
However, that void may soon be filled. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering organizing a new global T20 competition titled the ‘World Club Championship.’ ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould stated, “Undoubtedly, there will be a World Club Championship in the future — for both men and women. It’s the natural and next step for cricket.”
Though the tournament is still in the early planning stages, the ECB’s keen interest suggests they are serious about making it a reality. Gould added, “It’s still in the planning phase, but it could be the next big thing.”
From 2009 to 2014, the Champions League T20 ran for six years. It was jointly organized by the cricket boards of India, Australia, and South Africa. However, due to low viewership and lack of financial success, the tournament was eventually shut down.
At the time, Richard Gould was the Chief Executive of Somerset County Cricket Club. His club had shocked everyone in the inaugural edition of the tournament by defeating IPL champions Deccan Chargers in 2009. Recalling those memories, Gould said, “That tournament came ahead of its time. It couldn’t survive commercially, but it was a fantastic event.”
However, launching such a tournament again presents a major challenge: finding a suitable slot in the already packed global cricket calendar.
