Champions League Twenty20 2008 News
Champions League Twenty20 cancelled
Dec 12, 2008
The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 has been cancelled, tournament organisers confirmed on Friday.
The event was initially slated to take place in India from September 29 to October 8 but was moved to December due to its close proximity to the Champions Trophy, an event which was later postponed.
The rescheduled tournament was then called off following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, leaving organisers with the problem of trying to find a window in an already crammed calendar. The tournament's governing council took the decision after considering the international fixture list and the domestic schedules of the participating teams.
"The inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will now be held in India in October 2009," said Champions League Twenty20 chairman Lalit Modi.
"The governing council, comprising the founder board members, took this collective decision after taking into account all aspects."
Middlesex were England's representatives, Nashua Titans and Nashua Dolphins were to take part from South Africa while Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were India's participants.
Victoria Bushrangers and Western Australia Warriors were due to represent Australia, with Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions completing the eight-team line-up.
Champions League T20 organisers to meet on Dec 8 for new dates
Nov 28, 2008
The organisers of the postponed Champions Twenty20 League will meet on December 8 to see if they can reschedule the tournament early next year, according to the spokesman of the US $6 million tournament.
The eight-team tournament was earlier scheduled to be held in India from December 3-10 but had to be postponed after terror struck Mumbai, one of the three venues.
The meeting of the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa -- the three founding boards of Champions League -- is likely to take place in India and they would "explore any opportunities" to hold the inaugural tournament in 2008-09 season, League spokesman Philip Pope said.
The biggest problem facing tournament organisers will be finding a gap in the busy international schedule in 2008-09 season.
"This window was created in the next week-and-a-half, so in order to establish a new competition elsewhere, (it's) very problematic, with broadcasting, venues, that sort of thing," said Tony Dodemaide, chief executive Cricket Victoria, whose team Victoria Bushrangers will take part in the tournament.
"Many of the venues are booked up now with current competitions going on around the world, so it's very difficult to do and in that light this was the obvious decision," he was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.
Victorian coach Greg Shipperd suggested Australia could host the tournament. But, Graeme Wood, chief executive of WACA, whose team Western Australia Warriors is taking part in the tournament, thinks the League will go ahead early next year either in India, the Gulf countries, England or South Africa.
2008 Champions League Twenty20 postponed
Nov 27, 2008
The inaugural six-million dollar Twenty20 Champions League has been called off because of the deadly attacks in Mumbai, organisers said on Thursday.
The tournament, featuring the top eight Twenty20 domestic teams from Australia, South Africa, India, England and Pakistan, was due to be held from December 3-10 in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.
"We held consultations among all the stakeholders including the founding members, the participating teams and members of the Governing Council after the unfortunate terrorist attacks in Mumbai on Wednesday night," League chairman Lalit Modi said in a statement.
"It was agreed that in the best interests of all concerned, the inaugural edition of the Champions League should be postponed."
"We very strongly condemn this dastardly and heinous criminal act of a few which has resulted in the loss of precious lives and injury to hundreds.
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and we are with them in their hour of grief."
Modi did not say when the tournament will be played.
Middlesex, Stallions announce squad for Champions League
Nov 25, 2008
Shaun Udal will lead England’s Middlesex Crusaders while Shoaib Malik will captain Pakistan’s Sialkot Stallions in the inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament.
Both teams announced their squads Tuesday for the Dec 3-10 showbiz to be held in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
Middlesex Crusaders made the cut by winning England Twenty20 Cup while Stallions are the champions of Pakistan’s domestic T20 league.
Left-arm spinner Murli Kartik, who has been included in the 15-man squad, will add an Indian flavour to the English team.
Owais Shah, who is playing for England in the ongoing one-day series against India, has also been picked for the squad but it is still not sure whether he will get the clearance from England and Wales
Cricket Board (ECB) as they play two Tests against India immediately after the one-day series.
Andrew Straus, who is expected to be named in the Test squad, has been left-out by Middlesex.
Middlesex Crusaders Team: Shaun Udal (Captain), Alan Richardson, Benjamin Scott, Billy Godleman, David Nash, Dawid Malan, Edmund Joyce, Eoin Morgan, Gareth Berg, Murali Kartik, Nick Compton, Owais Shah, Steven Finn, Timothy Murtagh, Tyron Henderson.
Siakot Stallions Team: Shoaib Malik (Captain),Abdul Rehman, Adeel Malik, Ali Khan, Bilal Hussain, Faisal Naveed, Kashif Raza, Kamran Younas, Mansoor Amjad, Muhammad Ayub Muhammad Ali, N. Qazi, Qaisar Abbas,Sarfraz Ahmad, Shakeel Ansar.
Victoria Bushrangers announce squad for Champions League
Nov 25, 2008
With three players who have played in the Indian Premier League in their 15-man squad, Victoria Bushrangers arrive in India on Friday hoping for a good show in the Champions League Twenty20 which starts on December 3.
Victoria, who announced their squad today, have in their ranks three players in captain Cameron White, David Hussey and Brad Hodge who have played in the inaugural edition of the IPL this year. The team also has Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle who toured India in the just-concluded Test series.
They will reach Mumbai on Friday for cricket's first Twenty20 Champions League, with hopes of a semi-final showdown with Victoria's favourite son Shane Warne, captain of IPL champions Rajasthan Royals, in the $5 million eight-team tournament.
Victoria play Middlesex Crusaders of England on December 3 before taking on Chennai Superkings (December 4) and Titans of South Africa (December 6).
Victorian Team: Cameron White (c), Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, John Hastings, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Clinton McKay, Dirk Nannes, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade.
Hayden to play in Champions League for Super Kings
Nov 25, 2008
Matthew Hayden has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play for Chennai Super Kings in next month's Champions League Twenty20 starting December 3, according to coach Tim Nielsen.
Hayden, who will be playing his 100th Test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval from Friday, will have rush to India for the Twenty20 event before embarking on a three-Test series against South Africa.
Hayden will have Michael Hussey as his company in Chennai Super Kings team while another member of the Australian Test squad - Peter Siddle - will represent Victoria Bushrangers in the Twenty20 tournament which is wedged between the series against New Zealand and South Africa.
"Cricket Australia has endorsed their participation, that's the way the modern game goes. We've just got to deal with it like we do when we've got players who are a bit sore or a bit tired on the road," Nielsen said.
To ensure that Australian and South African players represent their domestic T20 teams in the Champions League, Cricket Australia, which has a 25 per cent stake in the tournament, has delayed the Perth Test until December 17.
South Africa will be represented by Titans and Dolphins in the Champions League Twenty20.
"We have to understand the changing nature of the game, that this is what is going to happen to ensure the game keeps generating money and getting people involved and kids wanting to watch it," Nielsen was quoted as saying in The Age.
"From my point of view, the Australian team and international cricket will always be the number one commitment, but it's not as simple any more as just saying that means we have our lead-up and everything else is put on the backburner," he added.
