June 23, 2008 - After the roaring success of the Indian Premier League, there is more to come for the cricket crazy Indian viewer. The latest blockbuster from the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) is a Twenty20 Champions League to be hosted in India late September in 2008. The Champions League will feature top two domestic sides from India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and England.  

Chairman of the IPL, Lalit Modi confidently said, "This venture is scheduled for September 2008. The BCCI will have fifty percent partnership in this tournament along with the other Boards involved in the League."

The stakes are even higher, this time with a whopping prize purse of 10 million dollars. The amount is double than that given away in the IPL. Providing details of the prize break up, Lalit Modi said, "The total cash prize is 10 million dollar out of which the winner gets 5 million dollars. The first runners-up gets 2 and half million dollars and 750,000 dollars for the semi-finalists."

If the Indian Premier League has a record number of viewers for the 44-day extravaganza, Modi hopes that the Champions League entertains the crowd as much. Modi added, "This tournament means yet another session of sleepless nights and more work. The BCCI has given the go ahead for the same, the board is awaiting the approval from other cricketing boards."

Australia will be represented by Victoria and Western Australia. The South African Challenge will be spearheaded by Nashua Titana and Kwazulu Natal Dolphins. As for England they are in danger of not being a part of the event after the England Cricket Board allowed players from the Indian Cricket League (ICL) to play in their leagues.

Lalit Modi strongly said that the Board has given strict conditions that players with ICL, will not be allowed to play in the Twenty2- Champions league. The millions are pouring into cricket with Texan billionaire Allen Stanford already striking a 100 million dollar deal with the West Indies Cricket Board and the England Cricket Board. The Twenty20 Champions League will be yet another feather in the cap of the BCCI, as they too will be counting the millions.