CSA statement on ICC Champions' Trophy tournament
The Board of Cricket South Africa will consider hosting the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September this year once it receives an official invitation to do so which is expected from the International Cricket Council's Executive Board next week.
A teleconference of the ICC's Chief Executive's Committee today decided unanimously to recommend to their board that South Africa be invited to host the tournament instead of Sri Lanka for weather reasons.
The ICC's Board is expected to make a decision on Monday.
Gerald Majola, CSA's CEO, said yesterday: “We have asked the ICC to provide us with a financial model and our Board will discuss the matter once we have received this model and an official ICC invitation.
“We would also have to follow the Government protocols for hosting a major international event.
“If the finances and protocols are right 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.
“It is a 12-day tournament that will require two venues which is well within our capabilities.”
The ICC said in a statement that Sri Lanka had agreed to step aside because there could be no guarantee of favourable weather at that time of the year.
The tournament is scheduled for 24 September to 5 October 2009.
