New Delhi: Ending all speculations, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Friday said that the BCCI was exploring options for a new league in September as a replacement for Champions League T20.
The BCCI is planning to scrap the event after dwindling viewer interest in the tournament and Shukla admits a new league can be a good answer.
"Yes, we are planning to do away with the Champions League T20. In place of that, we are considering an alternative league. But at the moment all this is at the planning stage" Shukla told PTI.
Since its inception in 2009, the TV ratings of CLT20, which in joint ownership of Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards, have dipped considerably. Shukla said that he and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur are trying to come up with something different.
"Several ideas are coming and honourable secretary and myself are considering those ideas. We will sit together after the IPL gets over and try and plan out something," he said.
UAE is reportedly being considered as a possible venue for the proposed league, but Shukla was unwilling to reveal anything furthur.
"At the moment we don't have anything in hand, but yes we are in the process of bouncing off ideas. When something concrete comes up, we will cetainly bring it to everyone's notice," he said.
Earlier, a report published in Indian Express said BCCI was all set to replace CLT20 with a mini Indian Premier League (IPL).
It was also reported that the new venture will feature the top four IPL teams that have made the playoffs this year, and will be played in a league format leading to a knockout phase.
It’s also learnt that the BCCI’s new secretary Anurag Thakur has informed Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa — India, Australia and South Africa are joint owners of CLT20 — that they will be scrapping CLT20 from this season.
(With Agency inputs)
