Modi: Logistics forced postponement

Lalit Modi is confident the Champions League will be held in India at a later date

The decision to postpone the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 was made for purely logistical reasons rather than concerns about security in India, according to tournament chairman Lalit Modi.

Organisers are planning to reschedule the eight-team event for early 2009 after terrorist attacks rocked Mumbai yesterday, but Modi insisted the tournament would have gone ahead if an alternative venue could have been secured at short notice.

Modi said: “All eight teams tried to implore us to continue with the Champions League and just change Mumbai.

“We, on our part, logistically could not replace a venue in 48 hours. We proposed the postponement.”

When asked if there was any possibility of moving the event outside the country, Modi insisted that had never been an option.

He added: “We are going to reschedule it in India.”

Teams from England, Pakistan, Australia, India and South Africa were due to take part in the competition from December 3-10.

Middlesex Crusaders are the English representatives while Nashua Dolphins and Nashua Titans were due to travel from South Africa.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said: "It is a very sad day not just for cricket but for everybody affected by what has occurred in Mumbai.

“It is regrettable that the governing council of the Champions League had to take this decision but they had no choice in the circumstances.

“It obviously has negative financial connotations for everybody involved and it is a huge disappointment for the franchise players from the Nashua Dolphins and the Nashua Titans who were looking forward to the opportunity of competing on a bigger stage.”