ICC objects to BCCI's Champions League!!!

by Batman Wed 30 Jul 2008, 11:17

Curiouser and Curiouser said Alice......

ICC objects to Champions League

Joining the debate on staging of the BCCI-backed Twenty20 Champions League, the International Cricket Council objected to the Indian Board's plans of starting the event just a day after conclusion of the Champions Trophy.

The ICC's rules say no international event can take place within seven days of the conduct of their tournament.

But the inaugural Champions League, an inter-club domestic event which would feature star cricketers from the world, would start on September 29 while the Champions Trophy would be played in Pakistan from September 11-28.

According to a website, the ICC considers it a breach of terms and conditions and sent out an e-mail to all its member boards on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the BCCI, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) meet in Mumbai to finalise the inaugural event.

The ICC reportedly has asked its members "not to sign" any agreement without its approval.

The email also said even the ICC's broadcasters ESPN-Star Sports also have "several objections" to the event, because they worry it may devalue the Champions Trophy.

The Champions League, organised by the BCCI, is scheduled to be played between top domestic Twenty20 teams of India, South Africa, Australia and if a compromise is worked out, two teams from England too will be part of it.

The English version of Champions League is scheduled to be held in October.

by Batman Wed 30 Jul 2008, 11:18

Surely, the end is nigh?

by holcs Wed 30 Jul 2008, 11:26

Ha ha ha ha ha - the BCCI trying to call an event that involves teams from all over the world, a domestic event!

It is an International event with the participants being domestic teams from different countries!

Nothing will happen, it'll all go ahead though!

by Batman Wed 30 Jul 2008, 11:30

Already the Indian team is struggling with injuries and fitness blues. How can BCCI find players to virtually play non-stop cricket everyday at this rate?

Also it seems like more and more boards are taking independent decisions with respect to their playing calenders? What is the need for ICC then? The end is truely nigh.....

by Zat Wed 30 Jul 2008, 20:48

Aye holcs, the ICC is already lubed up at the exit point to allow for the regulation REMF to take place.

by Basil Thu 31 Jul 2008, 01:20

Everyone link arms, and as one say to the BCCI - SHOVE IT UP YOUR @RSE

by Zat Thu 31 Jul 2008, 01:45

Bas, it seems the BCCI are prepared to shove it up an arse, just not their own...

Here's a media statement from CricAus.

Cricket gets its Champions Twenty20 League

● US $6 million prize money with eight teams participating

Enthused by the individual successes of their domestic Twenty20 Leagues and the overwhelming global acceptance of the DLF Indian Premier League, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, KFC Big Bash Twenty20 organized by Cricket Australia and the Standard Bank Pro20 conducted by Cricket South Africa, the three boards have reached an agreement to stage the inaugural “Champions Twenty20” later this year.

The Champions Twenty20 League will be a collaboration by the three cricketing boards to build on the success of their domestic Twenty20 leagues in an effort to accelerate the development of cricket globally. Importantly, this would mark the introduction of a long-awaited football-style Champions League format for cricket, which will pit the best-of-the-best clubs in domestic cricket globally against each other.

The ten-day inaugural tournament will be played from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. The eight teams will be representing the finalists in the various domestic leagues, as per regulations of the League. The eight teams will play 15 matches in the inaugural Champions Twenty20. The number will move up to 12 teams playing 23 matches from year two. The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each. After the preliminary league matches, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals and their winners will clash in the grand finale.

Teams will be competing for a prize pool of US$6 million in the Champions Twenty20.

At the meeting today, the regulations concerning the league, the business plan, the governance model, the shareholding pattern and the commercial aspects including the tender process relating to the League have been approved.

Lalit Modi, Chairman & Commissioner of the Indian Premier League and Vice President BCCI, said, “The success of the DLF Indian Premier League has undoubtedly captured the imagination of cricket supporters from around the world. The Champions Twenty20 League, which will be played by eight best teams from the world which have earned their place through their domestic competitions, provides a new and exciting pinnacle for club championships across the world. It will provide teams with the opportunity to earn the title of World Club Champions in a format which will be eagerly anticipated by spectators and players alike. I keenly look forward to the inaugural season of the Champions Twenty20 League in September/October 2008.”

James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, said, “This fantastic new competition gives our best state cricketers, and their equivalents in other competitions, a chance to pit their skills against champions from other countries. I am also delighted that the benefits of this global event will flow down to state level and enhance cricket at grass roots level. I am certain it will add a whole new dimension to our own KFC Big Bash Twenty20 interstate competition and globally, will help us all in winning new fans for cricket around the world.”

Gerald Majola, Chief Executive of Cricket South Africa, said, “The Champions Twenty20 League is an idea whose time has come. I am certain this competition will significantly enhance the international stature of domestic cricket and pave the way for greater involvement of cricketers, right from the club, province, state and county through to the national and international arenas. CSA is proud to be associated with this initiative and we are sure that this event will ignite the passion of cricket lovers the world over, quite along the lines of what we had experienced with both our current Standard Bank Pro20 and the recently held inaugural ICC T20 World Cup held in South Africa last September.”

The Champions Twenty20 League is the first attempt of this type of concept in cricket and is aimed at producing more players capable of competing at the highest level. The Twenty20 Champions League’s mission will be to promote and develop cricket from the grassroots level upwards and promote the spirit of cricket among all the players and participating teams.

by Basil Thu 31 Jul 2008, 01:49

Zat wrote:Bas, it seems the BCCI are prepared to shove it up an arse, just not their own...

Here's a media statement from CricAus.
Cricket gets its Champions Twenty20 League

● US $6 million prize money with eight teams participating

Enthused by the individual successes of their domestic Twenty20 Leagues and the overwhelming global acceptance of the DLF Indian Premier League, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, KFC Big Bash Twenty20 organized by Cricket Australia and the Standard Bank Pro20 conducted by Cricket South Africa, the three boards have reached an agreement to stage the inaugural “Champions Twenty20” later this year.

The Champions Twenty20 League will be a collaboration by the three cricketing boards to build on the success of their domestic Twenty20 leagues in an effort to accelerate the development of cricket globally. Importantly, this would mark the introduction of a long-awaited football-style Champions League format for cricket, which will pit the best-of-the-best clubs in domestic cricket globally against each other.

The ten-day inaugural tournament will be played from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. The eight teams will be representing the finalists in the various domestic leagues, as per regulations of the League. The eight teams will play 15 matches in the inaugural Champions Twenty20. The number will move up to 12 teams playing 23 matches from year two. The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each. After the preliminary league matches, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals and their winners will clash in the grand finale.

Teams will be competing for a prize pool of US$6 million in the Champions Twenty20.

At the meeting today, the regulations concerning the league, the business plan, the governance model, the shareholding pattern and the commercial aspects including the tender process relating to the League have been approved.

Lalit Modi, Chairman & Commissioner of the Indian Premier League and Vice President BCCI, said, “The success of the DLF Indian Premier League has undoubtedly captured the imagination of cricket supporters from around the world. The Champions Twenty20 League, which will be played by eight best teams from the world which have earned their place through their domestic competitions, provides a new and exciting pinnacle for club championships across the world. It will provide teams with the opportunity to earn the title of World Club Champions in a format which will be eagerly anticipated by spectators and players alike. I keenly look forward to the inaugural season of the Champions Twenty20 League in September/October 2008.”

James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, said, “This fantastic new competition gives our best state cricketers, and their equivalents in other competitions, a chance to pit their skills against champions from other countries. I am also delighted that the benefits of this global event will flow down to state level and enhance cricket at grass roots level. I am certain it will add a whole new dimension to our own KFC Big Bash Twenty20 interstate competition and globally, will help us all in winning new fans for cricket around the world.”

Gerald Majola, Chief Executive of Cricket South Africa, said, “The Champions Twenty20 League is an idea whose time has come. I am certain this competition will significantly enhance the international stature of domestic cricket and pave the way for greater involvement of cricketers, right from the club, province, state and county through to the national and international arenas. CSA is proud to be associated with this initiative and we are sure that this event will ignite the passion of cricket lovers the world over, quite along the lines of what we had experienced with both our current Standard Bank Pro20 and the recently held inaugural ICC T20 World Cup held in South Africa last September.”

The Champions Twenty20 League is the first attempt of this type of concept in cricket and is aimed at producing more players capable of competing at the highest level. The Twenty20 Champions League’s mission will be to promote and develop cricket from the grassroots level upwards and promote the spirit of cricket among all the players and participating teams.

I thought Cricket Australia were made of sterner stuff.

by embee Thu 31 Jul 2008, 03:40

The email also said even the ICC's broadcasters ESPN-Star Sports also have "several objections" to the event, because they worry it may devalue the Champions Trophy

Is that possible?

by freddled gruntbuggly Thu 31 Jul 2008, 10:05

Basil wrote:I thought Cricket Australia were made of sterner stuff.

Sutherland's a crawler par excellence.

by Zat Thu 31 Jul 2008, 22:14

Basil wrote:I thought Cricket Australia were made of sterner stuff.

Why would you think that? They rolled over last summer here and let Ponting and Roy get royally butt-***ed. CA are every bit as bad as the rest in some ways.