International Twenty20 league launched
Cricket entered a new paradigm on Thursday with the launch of an international Twenty20 competition that will feature teams and players from across the world. Called the Champions Twenty20 League, it will be run by the cricket boards of India, England, Australia and South Africa.
The inaugural tournament, announced at a high-powered function hosted by the Indian board in New Delhi, is scheduled to start in October 2008 and is planned over nine days with $5 million in prize money, including $2 million for the winners. It will feature the top two teams each from existing domestic Twenty20 competitions in England, Australia and South Africa, and from a new league planned in India.
Though no players were named as participants, several big names were present at the ceremony - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming.