New Delhi, July 30: The much-anticipated Champions League Twenty20 will kick-off on October 8 with India Premier League-II runners-up — Royal Challengers Bangalore — taking on Cape Cobras from South Africa in Bengaluru, according to the draw and schedule announced by the governing council of CLT20 on Thursday.

Hyderabad will host the final on October 23 of the $6 million tournament as well as the second semifinal on October 22, while Delhi will host the first semifinal on October 21.

Three Indian teams — IPL-2 champions Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils, the league phase toppers — will take part in the tournament to be held across New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Cricket Australia and South Africa — the other two founder members of the tournament — will have two teams each along with the England and Wales Cricket Board. The remaining three teams will be from New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

The teams are divided into four groups of three each in the first phase of the event to spot eight qualifiers for the second league phase. While Deccan Chargers have been drawn in Group A, Royal Challengers and Daredevils are in Group C and D, respectively. After the teams play their respective group rivals in round one — to be held from October 8 to 14 — the top two teams will qualify for the second league phase, to be held from October 15 to 19.

The eight teams to reach the second league phase will be split into two groups (A and B) of four each. The top four teams from the second phase will progress to the semi-finals (October 21 & 22), with the final slated for October 23. Meanwhile, Airtel signed a five-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports to become title sponsors of the tournament.