ICC Board decides to hold Champions Trophy in September-October 2009

The Board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided that the ICC Champions Trophy will be held between September 24 and October 5 next year.

Dubai, Oct.15 : The Board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided that the ICC Champions Trophy will be held between September 24 and October 5 next year.

The ICC Board will make a final decision on the location of the event following India's tour to Pakistan in the first part of 2009 so that it can provide certainty to teams, broadcasters, commercial partners and other stakeholders.

t was further agreed that because the event was reduced in duration (12 days including a reserve day for the final instead of the 17 days set aside in 2008) it would be played in one city. A full schedule and also the location for the matches will be announced in due course.

ICC President David Morgan said on Wedenesday after the second and final day of the ICC Board meeting: "We are delighted to have slotted the ICC Champions Trophy into the FTP in 2009 thus maintaining the primacy of ICC events, and we now look forward to staging an outstanding, memorable event next September/October.

"The ICC Champions Trophy is part of a host of great ICC tournaments taking place next year, including the ICC Women's World Cup, the ICC World Cup Qualifier and the ICC World Twenty20 for both men and women.All these events during the ICC Centenary year will showcase cricket in the best possible light and will help to ensure that our great game remains a strong sport growing stronger," he added.

he Board considered the options available to slot the Champions Trophy into the Future Tours Programme in 2009 following the postponement of the event from Pakistan in September 2008 owing to safety and security concerns.

The Board received a presentation on the subject in the wake of work carried out by the Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and ICC management, including input from ICC Full Members.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "I'm hugely encouraged by the spirit of togetherness and teamwork shown by our Members in ensuring we have found a place for the ICC Champions Trophy in next year's calendar.

"The tournament, with its new format of the top eight teams playing in a short, sharp event, is vitally important for the world game because it allows those Members, as well as the developing cricket world, to grow the sport.It is part of the ICC's commitment to the game and we can now look forward to a great event next year," he added.

ANI