Champions League T20 Revived as World Clubs Championship Amid Saudi Competition
Revival of the Champions League T20
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Champions League T20 (CLT20) is set to make a comeback under a new name, the World Clubs Championship (WCC). This tournament, which featured franchises from various leagues, was discontinued in 2015 due to disappointing viewership.
However, with the recent emergence of a Saudi initiative aiming to establish a six-team tournament called the Saudi Super Slam, the CLT20 is being brought back to life. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is backing this revival.
The concept was discussed at the World Cricket Connects 2025 event last month, attended by CEOs from various franchise leagues, including ICC Chairman Jay Shah. Notably, representatives from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) were absent.
Absence of PCB at Key Meetings
Insights from Sources
“The Pakistan Cricket Board was invited to send its CEO of the PSL for a meeting held on the sidelines of the Cricket Connect meeting in London last month but no one showed up. The PCB didn’t show up and strangely, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also not regularly attended ICC meetings,”
This absence raises questions about PCB's engagement in international cricket discussions.
No IPL Teams in the WCC Despite BCCI Support
This situation excludes a significant market, as none of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams will participate in the WCC, even with backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Currently, only five teams from different leagues are expected to compete, and neither IPL nor PSL will be among them.
“Discussions were held on the proposed World Clubs Championship, its window, format, schedule, etc. The CEOs of the Emirates League, Big Bash League, The Hundred, SA20, MLC, Caribbean Premier League, etc., attended the meeting. Though the planned event has the backing of the Indian board, for the inaugural championship there will be no IPL participation,”