IPL champions RCB snubbed from World Club Championship T20 competition- Report

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) champions, will not participate in the first World Club Championship, which is scheduled to begin in 2026. The World Club Championship is thought to be the revival of the long-discontinued Champions League T20, though an official announcement has not yet been made.

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With the approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its chairman, Jay Shah, the World Club Championship is being expedited. The summit, which was organized by the English and Wales Cricket Board (WCB) with support from the ICC, brought together the CEOs of the majority of the top T20 franchise-based leagues.

IPL champions RCB and PSL champions Lahore Qalandars not invited to the World Club Championship

Despite the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), PTI claims that the IPL will not be represented.  The IPL champions, RCB, have won the trophy for the first time in eighteen years.  However, Pakistan will not be represented at the first World Club Championship, if reports are to be believed.

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 Following the absence of Pakistan's cricket board at a recent meeting in London, the decision was made to exclude any representation from the country.  The current Pakistan Super League champions are the Lahore Qalandars.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board was invited to send its CEO of the PSL for a meeting held on the sidelines of the Cricket Connect meeting in London last month, but no one showed up. The PCB didn't show up and strangely Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also not regularly attended ICC meetings.

Discussions were held on the proposed World Clubs Championship, its window, format, schedule, etc. (The) CEOs of the Emirates League, Big Bash League, The Hundred, SA20, MLC, Caribbean Premier League, etc, attended the meeting. Pakistan was also invited,” a source told PTI.

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An attempt is being made to disrupt the Saudi Cricket League by expediting the World Club Championship. According to the report, private investors are putting in an initial $400 million investment in the Saudi league, but they are encountering opposition since they would like to have their league featured alongside the annual Tennis Grand Slam events.

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