Champions League

The Champions League is a brand new Twenty20 tournament that will start at the end of September 2008 and run for ten days.

Eight teams are involved from England and Wales, Australia, India and South Africa, and the winners will be rewarded with a US$5 million prize. Substantial prizes will also be awarded to the teams finishing second, third and fourth.

The two finalists from the ECB Twenty20 Cup will represent English cricket, and will face Western Australia and Victoria for Australia, the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings for India and the Titans and KwaZulu Natal Dolphins for South Africa. All eight teams will play fifteen matches over the ten day period.

Announcing the Champions League, ECB Chairman Giles Clark said: “We are extremely grateful to our great friends from Australia, India and South Africa for their hard work and determination to get this tournament off the ground.

“The ECB Twenty20 Cup will be even more fiercely contested this season in the knowledge that the two teams who reach the final will qualify for the Champions League and the chance to win $5m. I am sure that the demand for tickets for this year’s ECB Twenty20 Cup will be greater than ever.

“We are already aware of a number of broadcast and commercial partners who are anxious to become involved with cricket’s latest exciting venture.”

As well as providing spectators with some sumptious games, the new Champions League will also give cricket bettors even more opportunities to make money.