New dates for Champions Trophy revealed by ICC
On Wednesday, a major announcement was made by the International Cricket Council that if the Champions Trophy passes the security test in Pakistan, then it will be hosted there between 24 September and 5 October 2009. Earlier the Champions Trophy was supposed to be held in the beginning of this year.
Pakistan was supposed to host the event during the last month, but the unfortunate incident of bombs across the country had implanted security fears in the minds of some teams, following which they refused to play there and thus the ICC had to postpone the event.
While South Africa pulled out officially, Australia, New Zealand and England had registered concern.
This latest decision was announce by the ICC after conducting a two day meeting of the heads of 10 full Members and three Associate Members of the ICC.
It was reported by the ICC president David Morgan, “The 2008 Champions Trophy has been postponed as you know. We now have a firm date with the final on the 4th October, 2009, reserve day for the final on Monday, October, 5th.”
Further another decision was also taken in the meeting that only one city will host all the 15 matches, since the duration of the even was reduced. Earlier, Lahore and Karachi were decided to share the eight-country limited-overs tournament. However, the place where all the matches will take place has yet to be decided by the ICC.
According to Haroon Lorgat, ICC Chief Executive, “I don't foresee us waiting as long as we did this year because the board has also decided to do an assessment on the venue immediately after India tours Pakistan next year. So a long time before next year we will decide a venue.”
The meeting, which was chaired by David Morgan, was attended by Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Vice-President, Sharad Pawar as well as special invitees of the President and the ICC Principal Advisor, IS Bindra.