The possibility of a resurgence for the Champions League T20 has emerged, with discussions underway among the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA), and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to revive the league, as confirmed by Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins. The Champions League T20, renowned as one of the premier cricket tournaments globally, is poised for a return after its discontinuation in 2015.

With six seasons under its belt, the league showcased top franchises from major cricket leagues such as the IPL and BBL. Initially launched in 2009, the tournament witnessed four seasons hosted in India and two in South Africa. Powerhouses like the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians claimed victory twice, alongside triumphs from teams like New South Wales and Sydney Sixers. Cummins acknowledged the challenges of finding a suitable window amidst a packed cricket calendar.

It highlighted plans to commence with the women’s edition. He emphasized the evolution of the T20 landscape, stating, “I think the (earlier edition of) Champions League was ahead of its time. The T20 landscape wasn’t mature enough at that point. I think it is now.”

Conversations between Cricket Australia, ECB, and BCCI indicate a collective interest in resurrecting the Champions League, although finding a suitable slot remains a hurdle.

Cummins advocates for globalizing the Big Bash League and integrating Indian players

Cummins disclosed ongoing dialogue with Cricket Australia’s CEO, Nick Hockley, emphasizing the importance of reintroducing the league. He expressed the aspiration to showcase the best cricket leagues globally by pitting teams like Melbourne Stars against Karachi Kings or Mumbai Indians. Additionally, he articulated the desire to integrate Indian players into the Big Bash League.

Cummins drew parallels between the impact of the Champions League in cricket and its counterpart in football, emphasizing the excitement it would generate. However, amidst a congested cricket schedule, the challenge lies in coordinating efforts to carve out a window for the Champions League.

In summary, efforts are underway to bring back the Champions League T20, with stakeholders recognizing its potential to showcase the best of cricket on a global stage, although logistical challenges remain to be addressed.

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Cricket Australia has confirmed that the remaining two Test matches in the ongoing Ashes series will go on as per schedule. SCG will host the fourth Test between January 4-8 followed by the fifth Test at Hobart (January 14-18). England are likely to lose the third Test given that they are still trailing by 51 runs in their second innings. England are 31/4 after Australia scored 267 in their first innings. 

Meanwhile, in an unfortunate news, four non-playing members of the England squad were contracted of Covid returning with positive tests. The four members who have contracted the virus comprise family members of players, and a coaching staff.

However, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement that the plans for the remaining series remains the same despite the Covid scare. 

“Our protocols are designed for absolutely this set of events. We’ve got strong protocols. We’ve got very comprehensive testing regimes.”

“We just need to remain calm and get the facts. Everyone needs to follow the medical advice. On that basis, we keep going. We’ve been working on the plans for this tour for over six months.”

Meanwhile, Ian Botham and Ricky Ponting were missing from the Channel 7 commentary team after a panel member is said to have contracted the virus as well. 

COVID Scare Hits Ashes 2021-22

When asked about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Sydney, the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, Hockley said that there are no plans to change the schedule.

‘That’s not part of our current planning,. There’s nothing to suggest otherwise. We’ll rely on the protocols. It’s a day-by-day proposition.’

Brief scores: England 185 & 31/4 (Mitchell Starc 2-11, Scott Boland 2-1) trail Australia 267 (David Warner 38, Marcus Harris 76; James Anderson 4-33, Ollie Robinson 2-64, Mark Wood 2-71) by 51 runs.

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Cricket Australia Chief Nick Hockley has asserted that there are no plans of sending chartered flights for Australian players playing in the IPL at the moment, once the IPL is over. The debate has gathered momentum once again after two players from the KKR camp was reported to be COVID positive which saw the KKR vs RCB game being postponed. Meanwhile, everything was fine with Aussie pacer Pat Cummins who is a part of the KKR outfit as said by the pacer himself.

Nick Hockley insisted that Australian players are feeling safe and secure in the IPL bio-bubble but his comments came before it emerged that two KKR players have tested positive for the dreaded virus, leading to the postponement of the franchise’s game against RCB on Monday.

“There’s no suggestion at the moment of any charter flight. “We’re working closely and talking closely with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, with the players and with the BCCI to make sure everyone’s okay and the people have got full information. Hockley told Melbourne radio station SEN.

The Cricket Australia Chief further said that they are monitoring the situation and a decision will be made but not immediately.

Also Read: Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Kolkata Knight Riders Game Set To Be Rescheduled

Will Monitor Situation Along With BCCI: Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia Chief

“The BCCI have come out and said they understand and want to support the players in making sure they get home safely at the end. The tournament doesn’t finish until the 30th of May, so for the moment it’s monitor the situation and as we get closer to the end of the tournament we’ll need to see where the situation is at,” he said.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians batsman Chris Lynn had recently requested Cricket Australia to arrange for a charter flight for Australia players after the tournament concludes on May 30.

Meanwhile, reports of COVID positive cases in the KKR and CSK camp has put the league into jeopardy. While a few Australian players have already left the tournament midway, Michael Slater’s move to leave the bio-bubble midway and go to Maldives have made many remaining players follow the same path as well.

Meanwhile, the rescheduled date of the KKR vs RCB is yet to be announced by the BCCI. However, this development could lead to more re-jigging of the schedule. With KKR set to play another game on May 8 (vs Delhi Capitals in Ahemdabad), it is likely that this game too will be rescheduled.

Also Read: 3 Chennai Super Kings Support Staff Test COVID Positive: Reports

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The Sydney Test between India and Australia which is the third Test of the series will see a reduction of crowds by 25 percent for the five days. Crowds were already reduced by 50 percent but with speculations that SCG might host back to back Test matches after India’s reluctance to travel to Brisbane, Cricket Australia has decided to reduce even more to maintain social distancing. The third Test in Sydney starts from January 7.

The SCG had already been reduced to 50% capacity because of restrictions in place for the coronavirus pandemic and Cricket Australia has halved that again — to a crowd of less than 10,000 daily — after consulting with the state government and health authorities.

Also Read: 5 Isolated Indian Players To Travel With The Team To Sydney: Reports

Crowds Reduced To 25 Percent For Sydney Test: Nick Hockley

“Reducing the capacity of the venue is crucial in achieving social distancing requirements,” Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement Monday outlining refunds and a ticket re-sale period.

“To date, we have been able to deliver a safe and successful summer of cricket thanks to our detailed biosecurity protocols, the cooperation and support of public health officials and the hard work of so many people behind the scenes” he further added.

Meanwhile, the five Indian players who were asked to isolate themselves will also travel with the squad to Sydney. Both the Indian and the Australian team are expected to travel to Sydney on January 4, Monday. The third Test starts at the SCG from January 07. The series is 1-1 at the moment after India’s win at the MCG in the second Test.

Cricket Australia Chief Nick Hockley has also denied reports of the Indian team’s unwillingness to play the final Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. He stated that the BCCI was ‘fully supportive’ of quarantine requirements in Queensland.

Also Read: SCG Likely To Host Back to Back Test Matches

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Cricket Australia has confirmed the venue for the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Sydney Cricket Ground will host the third Test after there were question marks on its availability after a rise in COVID-19 cases the Northern beaches of Sydney. The Australian cricketing body thus maintained its commitment to hosting the Test match at the SCG after MCG was the likely venue for the third Test. The final decision has been made after the end of the fourth day’s play in Melbourne. 

“Despite the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am delighted to say Cricket Australia remains on track to deliver the men’s international series as scheduled,” Cricket Australia interim CEO Nick Hockley said.

“To that end, we have made the decision to keep the New Year’s Test at the SCG, which has a wonderful recent history of hosting the Pink Test and Jane McGrath Day on the third day of play.

Also Read: Cricket Australia Look For Other Options After Sudden COVID-19 Outbreak In Sydney

Nick Hockley previously said that they would take every meaure required to ensure that SCG is ready in time to host the third test.

“The third Vodafone Test is more than two-and-a-half weeks away, which provides us with time to assess the evolving public health situation on the northern beaches of Sydney. We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground” Nick Hockley said in a statement. 

 

Cricket Australia Confirms Venue For Third Test

There were concerns that Queensland may close its border with New South Wales, which will mean players and broadcasting crews will not be able to travel from Sydney to Brisbane between the third and fourth Tests.

 Cricket Australia earlier said that it is committed to hosting the final test in Sydney and will bring the situation under control by the time the test match starts and they have finally been able to successfully make SCG eligible to host the third Test.

With the third Test now in Sydney and the fourth in Brisbane, Hockley confirmed that the board worked closely with the New South Wales and Queensland governments to deliver the series as planned.

Also Read:  Sydney Cricket Ground Vouches To Host Back To Back Test Matches

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Cricket Australia has denied reports of a shift of venue for the third and the fourth tests despite a new COVID surge in Sydney. As per reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, it said that Cricket Australia were mulling over a change of venue for the third and the fourth tests with fresh COVID-19 cases. However, the rumour has been put to rest by the board. It said that there is no change in schedule as of now and the two test matches are on.

The third Test between India and Australia is slated to be played at Sydney from January 7 while the last Test of the series will go ahead at Brisbane from January 15.

“The third Test is more than two-and-a-half weeks away, which provides us with time to assess the evolving public health situation on the northern beaches of Sydney. We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground,” Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s Interim CEO said in an official statement.

“Cricket Australia has developed a solid track record of delivery throughout this most challenging of summers and will continue to make appropriate and proportionate decisions in consultation with our biosecurity team, governments, State & Territory Associations, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, our partners and venues,” he added.

Also Read: Sanjay Manjrekar Criticises India’s Inability To Play Swing In Recent Times

Cricket Australia Have Plans In Place: Nick Hockley

Nick Hockley also said that Cricket Australia has plans in place to deal with any kind of emergency in respect to COVID-19 affecting the test series.

“CA has prepared for the possibility of COVID-19 hotspots and state border closures over the course of the summer and the protocols that we have put in place have been effective in ensuring the safety and success of the men’s and women’s domestic and international programmes to date,” said Hockley.

There were reports of Adelaide being a COVID hotspot in South Australia, however, the successful completion of the first test was an example of Cricket Australia’s well monitoring of the situation.

India lost the first test against Australia in Adelaide by 8 wickets. With the Boxing-Day test a week away, the Indian team management have to identify players who can win the next test apart from finding an ideal replacement for Virat Kohli at number 4.

Also Read: MCG TO Host 30000 Fans For Boxing-Day Test

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