India to host CLT20 from Sept 13

India will host the sixth edition of the world's premier domestic T20 competition from Sept 13 to Oct 4.

The tournament will follow a format similar to the three previous editions, with a Group Stage preceded by a Qualifier. A total of 29 matches will be played in the competition.

The group stage will be played from Sept 17 to Oct 4. It will feature ten teams.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings apart, Group A will comprise Dolphins (winners of South Africa's domestic T20 competition), Perth Scorchers (Big Bash League winners), and a team from the CLT20 2014 Qualifier.

"Group B will feature Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash League runners-up), the winner of the domestic T20 competition in the West Indies, Kings XI Punjab (runners-up in IPL 2014), Cape Cobras (runners-up in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition), and a team from the CLT20 2014 Qualifier," the BCCI said statement on Thursday.

Each side will play the other four in its group once, with the top two sides from each group going through to the semi-finals.

“The Group stage matches will be played at Mohali, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Raipur. The Qualifier will be played at Raipur. The CLT20 Governing Council has confirmed the teams that will compete for a total prize money of US $ 6 million,” Sanjay Patel, Secretary, BCCI, said.

The CLT20 2014 Qualifier, will be played from Sept 13  to Sept 16 , will feature four teams – Mumbai Indians (fourth-ranked team in IPL 2014), Northern Knights (winners of New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition), Southern Express (winners of Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 tournament) and Lahore Lions (Pakistan’s domestic T20 competition champions).
 
In the Qualifier, all teams will play each other once, with the top two advancing to the group stage.

The top team from Group A will play the second-ranked team from Group B, and vice versa, in the semi-finals, both of which will be played at Hyderabad on  Oct 2.

Bengaluru will host the final on Oct 4.

Group Stage:

Group A:

Kolkata Knight Riders

Dolphins

Perth Scorchers

Chennai Super Kings

A team from the Qualifier

Group B:

Kings XI Punjab

Cape Cobras

Hobart Hurricanes

Champion side from the West Indies

A team from the Qualifier

Qualifier

Q1 – Lahore Lions

Q2 – Mumbai Indians

Q3 – Northern Knights

Q4 – Southern Express

Q1/Q3 will enter Group A if either of them makes it to the group stage. Q2/Q4 will enter Group B if either of them makes it to the group stage.

If Q1 and Q3 both make it to the Group Stage, then Q1 will enter Group A and Q3 will enter Group B. If Q2 and Q4 both make it to the group stage, then Q2 will enter Group B and Q4 will enter Group A.