South Africa Put Forward As Champions Trophy Host

The International Cricket Council has recommended South Africa as replacement host of this year’s Champions Trophy instead of Pakistan following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The tournament had initially been set to take place in September 2008 but was postponed because of security concerns and, in the wake of the incident at Lahore, the Champions Trophy is likely to be moved away from Pakistan entirely.
 
An ICC committee put Cricket South Africa forward to hold the tournament when Sri Lanka said they could not stand in for Pakistan at such late notice.

A final decision will be made on 16th March and a single city will host the 12-day eight-team competition in September, 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.

‘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.’

As the incumbent host, Pakistan, which is also in danger of losing its co-hosting rights to the 2011 World Cup, will receive revenue from the Champions Trophy tournament regardless of which country hosts it.

The committee also recommended the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 be staged between 30th April and 16th May in West Indies. The 2009 tournament will be hosted by England between 5th and 21st June.