| I have previously written about the threat posed by | | | | finalists from this summer's tournament go to the |
| Twenty 20 cricket to the 50 over format, but it now | | | | Champions League to join the pair of qualifiers |
| seems that Twenty 20 is a threat to itself. The new | | | | already in place from Australia, India and South Africa. |
| tournament, scheduled to take place somewhere in | | | | With so much riding on the outcome, the Twenty 20 |
| Asia in September and October, joins an already | | | | cup is a far more serious business than it was on its |
| crowded cricket schedule. | | | | inception in 2003. |
| With so many Twenty 20 competitions in place - | | | | There is also the problem caused by the ICL. This, |
| they take place in all eight of the major Test-playing | | | | the Indian Twenty 20 tournament unsanctioned by |
| nations - the implementation of a Champions League | | | | its board, featured numerous English county players |
| will be difficult. Such a tournament seeks to unite the | | | | and these players are, according to the Indian cricket |
| best teams from each country in one tournament to | | | | board, ineligible to play in the Champions League. |
| give the world a club Twenty 20 champion. However, | | | | These issues are compounded by the danger of |
| players currently represent different teams - some | | | | over-kill. With an England vs. All stars XI match also |
| of which might play against each other in the | | | | being arranged by Allen Stanford, the American |
| proposed tournament - and consequently player | | | | businessman behind West Indies' Twenty 20 - prize |
| registration will be a tricky issue. | | | | fund $20m - there is a risk that the public might |
| A verbal agreement is apparently in place that | | | | eventually feel there are too many big money |
| players will represent their 'local' team. For example, | | | | Twenty 20 matches being played. |
| Ricky Ponting would play for Tasmanian Tigers rather | | | | Twenty 20 cricket is in its sixth year in England and |
| than Somerset Sabres or Kolkata Knightriders, both | | | | whilst the game is enjoying global expansion, surely |
| of whom he has also played for. The enforcement of | | | | the game here cannot be sustained at its current |
| this protocol would be difficult in a format that | | | | level. Counties are cashing-in to the point where a |
| thrives on the free market and movement of | | | | group match ticket now costs upwards of |
| players. Money talks in Twenty 20 and will surely be | | | | £25 ($50) and the original vision of the |
| the main factor in deciding where players should ply | | | | tournament in England, to introduce cricket to a new |
| their trade. | | | | audience, has been lost. It is no longer a fun, carnival |
| The winner of the new tournament stands to win | | | | version of the game but an ultra-competitive and |
| $5m, with substantial prize money also on offer to | | | | highly moneyed incarnation of it. There is a saturation |
| the runners up and semi finalists. This prize fund adds | | | | point and we might already be approaching it. |
| an extra spice to the English Twenty 20 cup, as the | | | | |