Champions Trophy set to go to South Africa

The International Cricket Council's Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) on Wednesday recommended that the Champions Trophy be held in South Africa and not Sri Lanka as rainfall could affect the tournament to be held during September-October this year.The Champions Trophy was supposed to held in Pakistan last year but was postponed to 2009 over security fears raised by certain teams.Sri Lanka was thought of as an alternate venue but the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) could not guarantee there would be no rain in Colombo during the September 24-October 5 tournament.Thus, the CEC met via teleconference on Wednesday and suggested South Africa as the alternate venue provided the country's cricket board agrees to financial arrangements.The recommendation would be sent to the ICC Board, which will take a final call during a teleconference on March 16."During the meeting, SLC said it could not guarantee there would be no rain in Colombo during the dates set aside for the tournament, September 24 to October 5, 2009," according to a statement in the ICC website.

"On that basis, and with the need to minimise risk and create certainty around the event, the meeting agreed to recommend that Cricket South Africa be sought as the alternative host, subject to agreement over financial arrangements.""The CEC agreed the need to do everything possible to ensure this year's ICC Champions Trophy is a successful event," ICC chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said.