Champions League cancelled, next attempt in 2009

The cancellation of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament due to security concerns came as no surprise in the wake of Mumbai's terror attacks.

In a tele-conference between BCCI officials and founder co-members Australia and South Africa on Tuesday, the talks ended with the conclusion of staging the tournament in October 2009.

"The inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will now be held in India in October 2009," Lalit Modi, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president, said in a statement.

Looking at the busy international calendar and the domestic championship, the governing council were finding it difficult to schedule its $6 million event. Earlier, the BCCI had shuffled its Ranji Trophy schedule along with other domestic tournaments and now with the Indian Premier League (IPL) also on cards, the board were staring helplessly at their taut domestic itinerary.

"The governing council, comprising the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards, also took into consideration the busy international calendar and the domestic schedules of the participating teams," it added. Six teams - two from each of the founding Board members - are confirmed as participants. The other participating teams will be finalised by the end of January 2009.

Teams from Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa and India were due to have played in the event originally scheduled from December 3 to 10 in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.