The fixtures for the Champions League T20 will be known Thursday at a glittering awards function in New Delhi.

The highlight of the evening would also be the draw of lots to form the two groups for the inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20, to be held at three venues from December 3 to 10, 2008.

Outstanding performers in the Twenty20 format of domestic cricket during the last year will be honoured at the Taj Palace Hotel on Thursday at an awards function to be attended by the game's super stars from India and Australia as well as top cricket administrators from India, Australia and South Africa.

Lalit Modi, Chairman of the Champions League Twenty20, said he wants to make the awards ceremony an annual event ahead of every Champions League T20 edition: ""The aim of the awards is to honour and acknowledge top performances in Twenty20 cricket. We hope to make it an annual event to be held ahead of the Champions League Twenty20."

"I congratulate all the winners and hope that this will inspire them to do better in the future and that it will encourage other cricketers to do well to claim the awards."

The entire one-hour function will be telecast live by ESPN STAR Sports and several other channels.
In a fine gesture, ESPN STAR Sports have offered live feeds simultaneously to all channels free of cost.

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said, "Champions League T20 is the marquee global tournament where only the best teams get to compete for the ultimate honor and this award function recognizes the stellar performances of the new super heroes of the game."

"This sets the stage ahead of the Champions League T20 tournament where many of these players will be seen in action."

"I am pleased to announce that we have decided to extend the Live feed of the awards ceremony gratis to other channels in the greater interest of the game and fans".

Eight teams, consisting of the reigning winners and runners-up from the domestic Twenty20 competitions in India, Australia and South Africa, plus the reigning Twenty20 champion Sialkot from Pakistan, and the reigning Twenty20 Cup champion from England, Middlesex, have been invited to contest the 2008 Champions League Twenty20.