Bangalore, Oct 8, 2009:  The Airtel CLT20 went underway here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore with a spectacular opening ceremony.  The league first of its kind has united the best cricket clubs from around the globe to play in 2 week long tournament.

The winner of the tournament will take away $2.5 million.  Champions League Commisioner, Mr Lalit Modi thanked the boards from around the world to help realize this league.  He siad "It's a place where we can find young cricketers who then play for their national sides. The IPL is a great example of a domestic club-level tournament, and similarly nations around the world have club tournaments. The objective here is not to make money, it is to build the game, to build club-level cricket, to find and nurture new talent. Money is not the criteria.”

He added “The objective here is that we have some of the best players around the world and we hope that in years to come the Champions League comes to symbolize what the UEFA is to football.  From this year itself the tournaments in countries like Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies will become more competitive. You'll see players who were not participating in domestic tournaments who will now take part and do well. Before, once players graduated from their clubs, they became international players and if at all they went back to their clubs they hardly played a few games. But the rules of the Champions League are that you have to play for your club, and your club must win to participate here. You won't get a chance to be here unless you've not played for your club."

The stadium was a sellout as reggae singer Shaggy, Grammy winner Chaka Khan, British pop star Jamelia and Shaolin monks from China dazzled the crowd with their performances.  Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the Cape Cobras in their opening match.

CLT20 Teams:

Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Victoria, New South Wales, Sussex, Somerset, Cobras, Eagles, Wayamba, Trinidad and Tobago and Otago.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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