Mini IPL could replace CLT20

An official BCCI meeting on July 8th in Delhi is supposedly set to discuss on a possible replacement of the mid year CLT20, which is not yet officially scraped . although a BCCI source had said “It is a given that CLT20 is history and it’s time to look ahead”.

The Champions League T20, modelled on the highly successful UEFA champions League, somehow failed to garner any interest among the fans, with only 3 IPL teams taking part in it (A possible fourth if it gets through the qualifiers), the league didn’t pull crowds  the famed IPL, hence the axe seems inevitable.

The BCCI is said to be contemplating on an ‘IPL’ tournament like a replacement for the CLT20, and they reportedly came up with some interesting options.

*A Mini IPL could feature the top 4 IPL teams playing six group games and a seventh which would be the Final.

*A Baby IPL could feature all the IPL teams who go head on head in quickfire 15 game tournament, with groups of 4 making up the league stage.

*Responding to a non official WICB request of having a short home series against the Windies to make up for the losses caused by their shock pull out last year.

The first two options if seemed financially and logistically plausible, then the formal request would be forwarded to the BCCI working committee for a formal ‘ratification’.

However Broadcasting right for such a ‘new’ league if given to any Broadcaster other than the Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd, then it would face the brunt of the IPL broadcasters in front of the Competition Committee of India, but the BCCI itself is confident enough that if and when the Mini or Baby IPL actually happen then there would be a ‘transparent’ form of giving Telecasting rights.

Another aspect of the CLT20 axe could see the players not actually fulfilling their contractual commitments, as 10% of the IPL contracts of each players becomes the match fees for his CLT20 participation, if his team actually qualifies and it is also understood that sponsorship companies too rely on the CLT20 qualifications as part of their deal, hence making CLT20 slot all the more crucial.