Twenty20 Champions League On Verge Of Being Scrapped

The "pot of gold chased by teams at the end of Australia's Big Bash competition is set to vanish," according to Robert Craddock of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. The A$6M ($4.8M) Champions League, where leading teams from Twenty20 competitions around the world play each other in India, "is poised to be scrapped due to financial difficulties arising from the format's failure to attract the global interest expected." It has been reported broadcaster Star Sports was losing A$100M ($80M) annually out of the tournament, "partially due to minimal television rights interest from nations outside India." The two finalists of the Big Bash gained entry to the Champions League and the Sydney Sixers pocketed $2.5M when they won it in '12. Australia is a joint partner in the Champions League with the South African and Indian Boards. It "is certain the three boards will seek large compensation from Star Sports if the competition is scrapped and not played in a revised format" (COURIER-MAIL, 4/28).