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).
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.
Further, 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.
League
Country
Slots
Qualification Criteria
Indian Premier League (IPL)
India
3
Winner, Runner Up, 3rd Place
Big Bash League (BBL)
Australia
2
Champion, Runner Up
CSA T20 Challenge
South Africa
2
Champion, Runner Up
T20 Blast
England
1
Champion
Super Smash T20
New Zealand
1
Champion
National T20 Cup
Pakistan
1
Champion
Caribbean Twenty20
West Indies
1
Champion
Inter-Provincial T20
Sri Lanka
1
Champion
Which 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:
Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) {Source: AFP)
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