What Is Champions League T20, Which Teams Participate, And What Is The Format?

Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) {Source: AFP)The IPL 2026 fever hadn’t even worn off yet; talks of another legendary T20 league, the Champions League T20, returning have already taken the world by storm.Recently, a report has been circulating about CLT20’s return after a 12-year hiatus. On top of that, a website under the domain name ‘CLT20’ has revealed a schedule for the 2026 season.The league was shut down in 2014 after a mutual decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA), and Cricket South Africa (CSA).It is worth noting that exactly a year ago, in July 2025, the Champions League Twenty20 was reported to be returning, marking its much-awaited return. The news spread like wildfire, but there was no follow-up confirmation from the official boards involved.Thus, CREX understands that the website’s claims are not official and are not backed by any of the ICC, BCCI, CA, or CSA.Nonetheless, now that the league is in the news once again, let’s take a stroll back in time and understand what the league is all about and explore, if it were to happen in 2026, what teams would have qualified for the Champions League T20.What is Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20 Format)The CLT20 was inaugurated in 2009 with the aim of uniting top T20 clubs from around the world in a single tournament. Cricket’s most ambitious attempt, CLT20, featured domestic franchise league champions from around the world, including India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.The league featured clubs from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), South Africa T20 (SA20), The Hundred, Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Qualifiers (IL20 / BPL). Champions League T20 Winners: YearSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableHostSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWinnerSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunner-upSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2009SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndiaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableNew South WalesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableTrinidad & TobagoSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2010SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSouth AfricaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChennai Super KingsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWarriorsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2011SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndiaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMumbai IndiansSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRoyal Challengers BangaloreSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2012SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSouth AfricaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSydney SixersSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableHighveld LionsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2013SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndiaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMumbai IndiansSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRajasthan RoyalsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2014SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndiaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChennai Super KingsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKolkata Knight RidersWhy was CLT20 shut down?The tournament was discontinued in 2014 due to declining viewership and commercial challenges. Its three founding members, the BCCI, CA, and CSA, accepted a proposal from broadcaster Star Sports to shut down the league. Incurring heavy financial losses, Star offered a compensation package, which the three boards agreed to in 2015.Also read: S Sreesanth Openly Challenges Harbhajan Singh, Reignites IPL Slapgate RowFurther, re-establishing the league in 2026 would face several hurdles.When the Champions League T20 was discontinued in 2015, franchise-based competitions existed only in a handful of major Test-playing nations.Today, leagues have mushroomed across the cricketing ecosystem, with even Associate nations like the USA and UAE running their own tournaments. Countries such as Nepal and Canada have also joined this bandwagon. Moreover, identifying a window in a cramped calendar will be another challenge for the organisers.Which teams qualify for Champions League T20?Interestingly, teams cannot buy their way in; they must win their way in. Participating in the league is completely merit-based.LeagueSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableCountrySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSlotsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableQualification CriteriaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndian Premier League (IPL)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIndiaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWinner, Runner Up, 3rd Place SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBig Bash League (BBL)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAustraliaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion, Runner Up SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableCSA T20 ChallengeSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSouth AfricaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion, Runner Up SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableT20 BlastSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableEnglandSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSuper Smash T20SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableNew ZealandSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableNational T20 CupSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TablePakistanSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableCaribbean Twenty20SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWest IndiesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampion SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableInter-Provincial T20 SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSri LankaSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableChampionWhich teams would qualify if CLT20 were held in 2026?If the Champions League T20 were to take place in 2026, the 12 to 14 participating teams would qualify based on merit from the world’s top domestic T20 leagues. Based on the projected qualification grid and reports, the qualified teams would be:India (IPL): Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Rajasthan Royals (RR).Australia (BBL): Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.South Africa (SA20): Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals.England (The Hundred): Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets.Pakistan (PSL): Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen.UAE (ILT20): MI Emirates and Desert Vipers.USA (MLC): MI New York and Washington Freedom.Also Read: MS Dhoni Pleaded To Join Indian Team To Replace Gautam Gambhir