SA invited to host Champions Trophy
Brad Morgan
16 March 2009
Cricket South Africa has received an official invitation from the International Cricket Council on Monday to host the ICC Champions Trophy from 24 September to 5 October.
International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat, in a letter to Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola, said: "I am pleased to confirm the decision taken at the ICC Executive Board teleconference meeting today that South Africa be appointed as host of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy taking place between 24 September and 5 October of this year, subject to agreement on the commercial terms between ICC, Cricket South Africa and, if necessary, the host cities."
Majola responded: "We thank the ICC for this invitation, and for showing faith in CSA's ability to host a world-class event to the ICC's requirements.
Financial considerations
"We now await the ICC's financial model, and provided the government protocols to host major events have been clarified, and our Board agrees to accept the invitation, then we have the infrastructures and the expertise from recently hosting two ICC world championships to stage a successful tournament at short notice."
The event was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, but after the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team on 3 March it was decided to move the tournament to Sri Lanka.
However, it was then thought that the weather in the island nation in September and October could be a big impediment towards the successful hosting of the Champions Trophy, which is often termed a mini-World Cup. With the tournament having been trimmed down to only 12 days, there is no room for reserve days should rain wash out matches.
A proposal was put forward that the event be held in South Africa rather than in Sri Lanka. On Monday the ICC's Executive Board met and unanimously recommended that South Africa be invited to host the tournament because of the potential weather problems in Sri Lanka.
Host grounds
The ICC has said the tournament would take place at Liberty Life Wanderers in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Pretoria. The two cities are close neighbours – many people live in one and work in the other – so it makes sense to make use of the two world-class facilities and keep the Champions Trophy within a close geographical area.
ICC President David Morgan, commenting on the move to ask Cricket South Africa to host the Champions Trophy, described the decision as "sensible" and said that the ICC Twenty20 World Championships in 2007 showed that weather conditions in Johannesburg and Pretoria at the time of the tournament were ideal.
South Africa's hosting of the ICC Twenty20 World Championships was widely praised; the crowds were drawn into the spectacle and they themselves became an eye-catching spectacle on television as the event caught the imagination of the cricket world. That success in 2007 is a big reason why the country has been offered the Champions Trophy.
SA win first Champions Trophy
South Africa won the very first Champions Trophy, held in Bangladesh in 1998. They did it style, starting with a six-wicket win over England in the quarterfinals. The English scored a handy 281 for 7, but South Africa chased it down.
In the semi-finals, Sri Lanka was crushed by 108 runs. Batting first, the Proteas totalled 240 for 7. Sri Lanka, in reply, was skittled for just 132.
In the final, South Africa claimed a six-wicket victory over the West Indies. The Proteas dismissed the Caribbean islanders for 245 and then chased down the victory target with three overs to spare.
Jacques Kallis is the only remaining member of that South African team. He won the man of the match award for knocking over 5 for 30 with the ball and scoring 37 with the bat.
Champions Trophy winners
In Kenya, in 2000, New Zealand beat India in the final.
Sri Lanka won the tournament on home soil in 2002 when they defeated India for the title.
In 2004, in England, the West Indies beat England in the final.
In the most recent Champions Trophy, in 2006, Australia beat the West Indies in the final in a tournament hosted by India.
Would you like to use this article in your publication
or on your website?
See: Using SAinfo material
