The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has begun early discussions about launching a World Club Championship, a move that could revive global franchise rivalries in T20 cricket. This World Club Championship ECB announcement comes more than ten years after the Champions League T20 (CLT20) ended. The CLT20 ended due to low public interest and financial issues.
In recent years, many countries have started their own franchise-based T20 leagues. These include the United States with Major League Cricket (MLC), the United Arab Emirates with the International League T20 (ILT20), South Africa’s SA20, and England’s The Hundred. Cricket now appears ready to follow sports like rugby and football. In these sports, global club competitions have gained huge popularity and commercial success.
ECB chief Richard Gould says a global franchise tournament is the clear next step for cricket’s growth. He envisions a future where the best men’s and women’s teams from various domestic leagues compete in a single, high-profile event. Gould participated in the first edition of the CLT20 as Somerset’s chief executive. He said the tournament was “ahead of its time” despite its commercial struggles.
The ECB faces challenges in scheduling the World Club Championship because the international cricket calendar is already packed with bilateral and ICC events. The tournament will also need strong backing from IPL franchise owners. Many of these owners now hold stakes in other leagues worldwide. Their active support will be vital to ensure participation and effective promotion.
If the tournament goes ahead, England will probably send the champions of The Hundred. They are more likely to choose them over the T20 Blast winners. This move reflects the ECB’s effort to grow The Hundred’s international profile and give it global recognition.
Although Gould rejected the idea of a Saudi Arabia-backed Grand Slam T20 league, he fully supports a global club competition. This competition adds purpose to the rapid expansion of franchise cricket.
Cricket could soon see a thrilling return of a high-stakes, cross-league tournament. If the ECB’s plans succeed, the World Club Championship might become the ultimate stage for the world’s top T20 franchises.
