THE MUCH awaited announcement about the schedule of Twenty-20 Champions league finally came on Sunday, as the league Chairman Lalit Modi informed media in Johannesburg that The series will be played from October 8 to 23, 2009 in New Delhi.

 

Champion's League was earlier scheduled to be held in December last year, but was postponed due o Mumbai terror attacks. “The inaugural edition did not take place last year due to unfortunate circumstances but we are fully equipped this time around to conduct an extremely successful tournament in India,” said Modi.

 

The series will be played between T20 league champions of India, two finalist and top league team, and domestic T20 champions of South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

 

The teams will be divided into four groups of three each and will initially play each other on a league basis. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the second stage and four teams from the second stage would make it to the semi finals. The League will witness a total of 23 matches.

 

The League will carry a prize pool of $ 6 million for 2009.

 

Finalist of IPL Season 2 - Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers, along with Delhi Daredevils, top league team, will represent India in the inaugural edition of the league. Australia's Victoria and New South Wales and South Africa's Cobras and Eagles will also be playing in the series.

 

ESPN Star Sports are the commercial rights holders for the league for a period of 10 years.