ICC reveals Champions Trophy dates

David Morgan and Haroon Lorgat confirm the dates for next year's rescheduled Champions Trophy

The postponed Champions Trophy in Pakistan will be held in September and October next year, the International Cricket Council has revealed.

The tournament was scheduled to take place last month, but was put back due to security and safety concerns.

However, the ICC confirmed at its board meeting in Dubai that the competition will take place from September 24-October 5 2009.

The duration of the tournament, which features England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies, has been reduced to 12 days - rather than the 17 set aside for this year’s event.

All games will be played in the same city, although the ICC will not make a decision on the location until India have toured Pakistan early next year.

ICC president David Morgan, speaking after the completion of the two-day board meeting, said: “We are delighted to have slotted the ICC Champions Trophy into the Future Tours Programme in 2009, 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.”

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat added: “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.”