Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin wants CLT20 to return

Haddin will play for Sydney Sixers in this year’s Big Bash League

Brad Haddin, the Austrlian Wicket-Keeper batsman urged his desire for the return of the Champions League T20. His statement came up when the compensations funds left after the cancellation of the tournament from the CLT20 broadcaster made its way towards the Big Bash League. The prize money for BBL this year has tripled from last year according to ESPNCricinfo.

The Big Bash League starts off on Thursday with a derby between Thunder and Sixers in Sydney. The extra $600,000 would be for the clubs rather than the players. Last year the prize money was $290,000.

Haddin wants the league to return in any form, as according to him, “It's disappointing that it's not there, It's a great tournament, and with the Sixers we are lucky that we have got a couple of really key Australian players who enjoy coming back for the tournament as well.”

According to Haddin, the players are content with the current cash prizes in the BBL and he would rather want a global T20 league rather than an increase in the monetary benefits. For him, it was one of the most attractive tournaments to play in.

“It's a massive carrot; you can't hide behind that fact, for state associations and Australian cricket as well. From a players' point of view, and NSW Cricket and the Sixers, we'd like to see something go ahead.

“You can’t get past the fact it is an attractive tournament to play in. I hope they find something to replace it, because it's a great carrot for not only international players but domestic players to get to play in a different country but also to play all around the world.” Haddin said.

Boards of India, Australia and South Africa jointly came up with the idea of the Champions League T20 in 2008. A deal worth $900,000 with Star Sports as the broadcaster was sealed for 10 years. The Tournament didn’t cover the broadcasting or the advertising targets and to the result of which, the deal was called off before its expiry in 2018.

The growth of T20 leagues has been a major problem for teams like West Indies, Haddin said that most of the big name players from Indies would be turning up for the Big Bash and not the ongoing Test Series, he said, "That's their choice,” referring to the likes of Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo.

"If you want to see the best of the West Indies come to the Big Bash. We've got Andre Russell, I think he was player of the tournament in the IPL this year, so there are some talented West Indians out there, they just happen to be playing Big Bash and not Test cricket.

"If the [Test matches] only go for two and a half days, there's obviously days where there'll be Big Bash scheduled, I think the concept of this tournament's just been getting bigger and bigger every year.

“If the West Indies have been playing the way they have last Test - I think they'll come out and show some fight in the next two - but it's an opportunity for people to come and see some young cricketers and also some of the greats in the Big Bash.”

Haddin admits he is lucky that he is still in good shape to play T20 cricket as long as he wants.

“I'm pretty lucky I finished my Test career with no niggles and my body's in good shape, It's a great opportunity to go and play Twenty20, you only have to prepare for one form of the game, and if someone's bowling really fast I can stand outside leg and have a swing and say I was trying to move the game forward and not be scared!”, the Australian said.

"This is the start of my campaign now to move forward and hopefully play all around the world. I'm just excited about the Big Bash, it’s going from strength to strength and getting bigger every year.”