Champions League Expanded from Eight to Twelve Teams
 

Cricinfo - Champions League expanded from eight to 12 teams

Sad to see the team for Pakistan will not be playing.

Yeah sucks that Pakistan won't be playing because their government won't let them go, but the fact that more teams from more nations are involved is great news.

Interesting that Delhi are allowed in for ending up at the top of the points table now, but from next year onwards it will be a play-off between the two losing semi-finalists for the 3rd IPL spot.

I think its better to just give it to the top team. If the top team happens to lose their semi, qualification for the Champions League is a worthy reward for being consistent throughout the league stages.

This.

So, do IPL players play for their franchise or their domestic side?

Doesn't matter in Otago's case anyway. Expecting the team to be:

B McCullum
C Cumming
S Haig
G Todd
N Broom
D Mascarenhas (if he's allowed, he was the overseas player for Otago)
D DeBoorder
N McCullum
W McSkimming
I Butler
N Wagner

Think they'll do OK, they're always the team everyone down here underestimates.

Sucks that Pakistan can't get a team in.

One question, with two IPLs, how the hell will we fit in the CL as well and still have normal cricket?

There's no confirmation of two IPLs anywhere. Just hints from Modi.

I seriously doubt that it will happen in the near future.

yeah, if the topper does go through to the final, it can go to the 2nd in the table or 3rd in the table. That way, the league standings do become important.



For instance, had Chennai defeated KKR and Delhi's results been the same, Chennai would have gone through.. I am sure the India Cements guys are going crazy about that... :)

Yeah. Will be surprised if it takes place.

Woops, I was wrong, seems I mis-read. Haha.

McCullum is allowed to play. Great news, and should be good to have Mascarenhas involved as well :)

Things need to cool down more before Pakistan can get involved especially if the tournament is in India also sad to see no BD team getting involved.

in todays newspaper there was something about indian players playing couldnt understand it did any one else found that confusing i am saying about The Hindu

and what about the name Champions League have UEFA allowed to use the name

Yeah the players play for the Franchise.

Should be interesting with teams from all different countries but this year is becoming a 20-20 overkill... IPL just finished, T20 starting in less than 2 weeks and than Champs league in October.

Its ultimate up to the player right? If they play for the franchise, and the domestic teams get compensated, right?

The situation occurred with Mike Hussey, whereby if last year's Champions League went ahead, he would have played for Chennai, and WA would have received a compensatory payment.

But 9 times out of 10 they'll choose the money over their domestic team you'd imagine. Particularly because if its an intl superstar, they probably played more for their franchise than their domestic team!!!

Na ultimately its upto the Franchise .. whether they want to pay the relieving fee to the respective players state team or not.

They use it in handball and volleyball.

New south wales has claimed mccullum to cover dave warner for dehli.