From October 9th to 24th 2009 the TEN network’s specialist ONE HD sports channel will be broadcasting the Twenty20 Champions League (CLT20) competition for state/territory club teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies including Australian teams the NSW Blues and Victorian Bushrangers.
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This is the first time ever that the best club teams from different cricketing nations will compete in a big international competition and compete for $2.5 million in prize money for the winning team.
The Twenty20 Champions League can be viewed as the World Cup of club cricket – a platform for domestic teams to perform and gain fans at the highest international level and prepare their players for the next step – representing their countries in international T20, ODI and Test matches.
The 12 teams participating in the 2009 event are: Deccan Chargers (India), Royal Bangalore Challengers (India), Delhi Daredevils (India), NSW Blues (Australia), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia), Cape Cobras (South Africa), Diamond Eagles (South Africa), Otago Volts (New Zealand), Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies), Wayamba (Sri Lanka), Sussex Sharks (England) and Somerset Sabres (England)
One aspect of the tournament which could prove to be controversial is players who represent more than one club having to choose which side they play for in the tournament.
For example: Dirk Nannes was born and bred in Victoria and has been a key part of their formidable Twenty20 record but at the Champions League he will be playing for his IPL side Delhi Daredevils, who play the Victorian Bushrangers in their opening match
Victoria have won the Australian domestic Twenty20 title three of the four years it has been held, and have only ever lost three matches in the format. They are playing down their chances on the world stage but are quietly confident that their steady, familiar group can match the mish-mash of players in IPL teams.
The NSW Blues also have big hopes of Champions League Twenty20 success with a talented bowling line-up including Brett Lee and Stuart Clark and are depending on opening batsmen Phillip Hughes and T20 specialist David Warner to kickstart batting innings.
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ONE HD TV Schedule 2009 Champions League Twenty20 Cricket
Oct 09 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Cape Cobras starts 1:15am Oct 09 NSW Blues vs Diamond Eagles starts 9:20pm Oct 10 Delhi Daredevils vs Victorian Bushrangers starts 1:15am Oct 10 Cape Cobras vs Otago Volts starts 9:20pm Oct 11 Deccan Chargers vs Somerset starts 1:15am Oct 11 NSW Blues vs Sussex starts 9:20pm Oct 12 Delhi Daredevils vs Wayamba starts 1:15am Oct 12 Somerset vs Trinidad & Tobago starts 9:20pm Oct 13 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Otago Volts starts 1:15am Oct 13 Victorian Bushrangers vs Wayamba starts 9:20pm Oct 14 Diamond Eagles vs Sussex starts 1:15am Oct 15 Deccan Chargers vs Trinidad & Tobago starts 1:15am Oct 16 C1 vs D2 starts 1:15am Oct 16 A2 vs B2 starts 9:20pm Oct 17 A1 vs B1 starts 1:15am Oct 17 C2 vs D2 starts 9:20pm Oct 18 C1 vs D1 starts 1:15am Oct 18 A2 vs B1 starts 9:20pm Oct 19 A1 vs B2 starts 1:15am Oct 20 C2 vs D1 starts 1:15am Oct 22 Winner League B vs Runner-Up League A starts 1:15am Oct 23 Winner League A vs Runner-Up League B starts 1:15am Oct 24 Winner Semi Final 1 vs Winner Semi Final 2 starts 1:00am