The Nokia Champions League Twenty20 is an international Twenty20 cricket competition between club teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies.

The Champions League Twenty20 is chaired by Shashank Manohar, who is the President of the BCCI. The competition was launched in 2008 as a response to the success of national Twenty20 domestic cricket leagues, most notably the Indian Premier League.

The first edition was set to take place from late September to early October 2008 in India, after the tournament organisers resolved various problems that had put the inaugural tournament under some doubt, but it was later announced that the tournament would be held from December 3 to December 10, 2008.

The tournament was postponed again following terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 and was later cancelled. The first tournament was then held in October 2009. Indian mobile service Bharti Airtel bought the title sponsorship rights for the 2009 Champions League for the reported amount of Indian Rupee symbol.svg170cr (USD 38.4 million). 2011 season will be played in September–October in India.

2008 Season Main article: 2008 Champions League Twenty20 The first edition was supposed to have featured in India with 8 teams.Though there were rumours that only teams from India, South Africa, Australia and England would be allowed to take part, Sialkot Stallions of Pakistan was also allowed entry. The tournament was however postponed and later cancelled due to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

2009 Season Main article: 2009 Champions League Twenty20 After the cancellation of the inaugural edition, the tournament witnessed some changes to enhance fan support. The league was to feature 2 teams from India, South Africa, Australia and England and 1 each from West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The format of the game was also changed in contrast to the Twenty20 World Cup. However Sialkot Stallions from Pakistan were denied entry due to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. Delhi Daredevils the league topper of the IPL were chosen to substitute them. The NSW Blues beat the Trinidad & Tobago to win the trophy.

2010 season Main article: 2010 Champions League Twenty20 The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 was held in the month of September in South Africa. There were only 10 teams instead of 12 as the top 2 English counties could not participate. The 10 teams were placed in two groups. Chennai Super Kings beat the Chevrolet Warriors of South Africa in the final.

2011 season The 2011 Champions League will be held in the month of September in India.