The match schedule for the first edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will be announced on Thursday.

The competing teams have been initially divided into four groups of three. After teams play their respective group opponents in the first round of matches, two teams from each group will qualify for the second stage.

After another consolidated round robin phase, the top four teams from the second stage will progress to the semi-finals. The final will be held on 23 October.

Ten of the 12 competing teams have been confirmed, with plans at this stage for England’s two representatives to be added after the completion of its domestic Twenty20 competition on 15 August.

The Champions League Twenty20 Governing Council had announced that Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi will host the inaugural edition of the prestigious tournament from 8-23 October this year, with US$6m of prize money on offer.

The venues, home to the three IPL franchises who have qualified to compete in the 12-team competition to find the world’s best domestic Twenty20 side, will host 23 matches over the 16-day tournament.

The teams that have already qualified for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 are:

Deccan Chargers (India, Royal Bangalore Challengers (India), Delhi Daredevils (India, NSW Blues (Australia), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia), Cape Cobras (South Africa), Diamond Eagles (South Africa), Otago Volts (New Zealand), Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies) and Wayamba (Sri Lanka)

Lalit Modi, Chairman, CL T20 Governing Council, said:

“Along with commercial rights holder ESPN Star Sports, the founding members of the Champions League Twenty20 are excited at the potential for this event to capture the imagination of the sporting public around the world.”

Modi also said that the event will be a huge success in domestic cricket after expanding the tournament from eight to 12 teams for 2009.

The planned first edition of the CL T20 had to be cancelled last year after the tragic terror attacks in Mumbai.

"The Champions League Twenty20 will be televised live around the globe through ESPN Star Sports and is the perfect tournament to crown the best-of-the-best in domestic Twenty20 cricket,” Modi said.

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said: “We are really looking forward to the launch of the 2009 Champions League Twenty20.  CLT20 is well set to become the marquee tournament on the international cricket scene where the best club teams from top cricketing nations will compete for the ultimate honor to be adjudged as the Champion of Champions.”

“We, at ESPN STAR Sports, are committed to showcasing the exciting action from this tournament to fans through the most engaging and entertaining presentation across our multiple platforms, and are confident that the Champions League Twenty20 tournament will emerge as a celebrated winner and occupy its rightful premium position in global cricket.”

The Champions League Twenty20 is an initiative of three founding members – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA).

ESPN STAR Sports is the commercial rights holders for Champions League Twenty20 for a period of 10 years.