ICC unveil Twenty20 venues

Durban is one the three venues to host the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in 2007

The International Cricket Council has announced which three venues will host next year’s inaugural Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa.

The event, to be held in September 2007, will take place at the Sahara Stadium in Durban, The Wanderers in Johannesburg and Sahara Park in Newlands, Cape Town.

The top 10 cricketing nations will compete in the championships with the final two spots determined at a tournament in January involving Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Cricket South Africa Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: “We are very fortunate in South Africa to have so many world-class venues where we could have held this event and I am delighted with the choices made.

“Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg are no strangers to world-class cricket events, having each been used with great success during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, and I have no doubt they will do us proud in the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championships as well.

“Newlands is surely one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world, at the foot of Table Mountain. Kingsmead in Durban has always been a wonderful place to play and watch and when the stadium is full, it is electric.

“And anyone who has been to the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on a big match day will agree that it is one of the great sporting venues of the world.

“This event is a huge opportunity to showcase South Africa and South African sport to the rest of the world. I have no doubt it will be an occasion to remember.”