Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi announced as 2009 Champions League Twenty20 venues

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The Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) Governing Council has announced that Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi will host the inaugural edition of the prestigious tournament from 8-23 October this year, with US$6m of prize money on offer.

The venues, home to the three IPL franchises who have qualified to compete in the 12-team competition to find the world's best domestic Twenty20 side, will host 23 matches over the 16-day tournament.

The match schedule for the first edition of the tournament will be announced tomorrow, Thursday, 30 June, with the competing teams initially divided into four groups of three. After teams play their respective group opponents in the first round of matches, two teams from each group will qualify for the second stage.

After another consolidated round robin phase, the top four teams from the second stage will progress to the semi-finals. The final will be held on 23 October.

Ten of the 12 competing teams have been confirmed, with plans at this stage for England's two representatives to be added after the completion of its domestic Twenty20 competition on 15 August.

The teams that have already qualified for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 are:

  • Deccan Chargers (India)
  • Royal Bangalore Challengers (India)
  • Delhi Daredevils (India)
  • NSW Blues (Australia)
  • Victorian Bushrangers (Australia)
  • Cape Cobras (South Africa)
  • Diamond Eagles (South Africa)
  • Otago Volts (New Zealand)
  • Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies)
  • Wayamba (Sri Lanka)

Lalit Modi, Chairman, Champions League Twenty20 Governing Council, said:

"Along with commercial rights holder ESPN Star Sports, the founding members of the Champions League Twenty20 are excited at the potential for this event to capture the imagination of the sporting public around the world."

"Despite having to postpone the planned first event late last year, the CLT20 Governing Council has expanded the tournament from eight to 12 teams for 2009, a sure sign that this event will quickly establish itself as the premier event for domestic cricket.

"The Champions League Twenty20 will be televised live around the globe through ESPN Star Sports and is the perfect tournament to crown the best-of-the-best in domestic Twenty20 cricket."

The Champions League Twenty20 is an initiative of three founding members - the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA).