Champions League to offer bumper prize

Cricket is to have its own international Champions League after the game's governing bodies in England, Australia, India and South Africa confirmed plans for an eight-team tournament on Saturday.

Two teams from each country will progress to a lucrative Twenty20 competition with a prize of US$5million (£2.5m) on offer to the winners.

Original proposals were that the winners of the multi-national showdown would pick up US$2m (£1m). However, that has been revised to two-and-a-half times the figure with the 20-over game's appeal highlighted by the recent Indian Premier League.

The tournament will take place in a venue yet to be confirmed - either India or the Middle East.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke and chief executive David Collier have been in discussion with their international counterparts this week.

The 15 matches will take place immediately after the end of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, which concludes on September 28.

Shane Warne's IPL champions Rajasthan Royals and runners-up Chennai Super Kings will be joined by Victoria, Western Australia, the Titans, of Pretoria, and KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins.

"We are extremely grateful to our great friends from Australia, India and South Africa for their hard work and determination to get this tournament off the ground," said Clarke.

"The ECB Twenty20 Cup will be even more fiercely contested this season in the knowledge that the two teams who reach the final will qualify for the Champions League and the chance to win five million dollars.

"I am sure that the demand for tickets for this year's ECB Twenty20 Cup will be greater than ever."