Cricket: South Africa Proposed as Champions Trophy Host

Page last updated at 13:55 GMT, Wednesday, 11 March 2009

S Africa proposed as Trophy host:

Australia were unable to defend the Champions Trophy in 2008 South Africa should host this year's Champions Trophy, originally set for Pakistan, an International Cricket Council committee has recommended. The tournament had initially been set to take place in September 2008 but was postponed because of security concerns. Cricket South Africa was put forward to hold the tournament when Sri Lanka said they could not stand in and a final decision will be made on 16 March. A single city will host the 12-day eight-team competition in September. The ICC chief executives' committee proposed South Africa and the decision is expected to be ratified at the ICC board meeting in March, subject to agreement over financing the tournament. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "The meeting agreed we had to do everything possible to ensure the ICC Champions Trophy is a successful event." The event will take place between 24 September and 5 October and it was decided South Africa would be the most suitable venue as Sri Lanka could not guarantee there would be no rain. Lorgat added: "On that basis it was felt that it would be too great a risk to stage the tournament in Colombo at a time of year when there was a distinct possibility of rain. "This was especially relevant given the length of this year's ICC Champions Trophy has been reduced to 12 days - part of our desire to make it a short, sharp event - as on that basis there would be no room for reserve days. "South Africa was a successful and excellent host of the ICC World Twenty20 at much the same time of year two years ago and the weather pattern in the area around Johannesburg in September and October is stable and ideal for cricket." Pakistan will receive revenue from the tournament regardless of which country hosts it. The committee also recommended the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 be staged between 30 April and 16 May in West Indies. The 2009 tournament will be hosted by England between 5 and 21 June.