What Champions League axing means for NZ teams

The Wellington Firebirds will miss out on prizemoney and an overseas trip after the Champions League T20 was cancelled. Photo / Getty

The demise of the Champions League is disappointing news for New Zealand, for whom it provided useful financial support over the last six years.

The league, run by the Indian, South African and Australian boards, has been scrapped largely due to lack of interest. It was an unloved beast, a T20 tournament essentially for champion domestic teams to test their muscle against global rivals.

The monies which came to New Zealand out of the league were split among the six provinces and New Zealand Cricket, so everyone got a chunk of that particular pie.

Spare a thought for Wellington. They were to be New Zealand's representatives for the first time this year, after winning the Georgie Pie Super Smash last summer.

In truth, New Zealand's teams didn't cover themselves in glory in the tournament.
Otago and Auckland attended twice, Central Districts and, last season, Northern Districts once.

It wasn't until 2012, the fourth event, that a New Zealand team actually won a game, either qualifying or in group play.

Some of the early performances showed a distinct gulf in class, however Auckland, Otago and ND in the last three seasons improved the statistical return and in a couple of instances were stiff not to progress beyond group play.

The non-international players will miss it. For those who are never going to make the New Zealand team, it provided a chance to test themselves against the game's best.

Among the issues of the Champions League was that players contracted to Indian Premier League teams invariably played for them rather than their own home province; low spectator interest and subsequent drop off in sponsor appeal.

It's been a bad week for the Indian governing body the BCCI, what with the anticipated suspension of two IPL franchises for corruption, officials from those franchises receiving life bans, the competition having been significantly tainted, and now this.