T20 Cricket News

Lalit Modi, the chairman of the Champions League Twenty20, has said the venue for the 2010 tournament has not yet been decided. His message on Twitter appeared hours after Cricket South Africa had issued a media release saying they had "accepted an invitation for South Africa to host the second season of the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 tournament at three venues over the period of September 10-26."

"News that South Africa hosting Champions League incorrect. They are a hot contender definitely. Also who are invited to play still to be decided," Modi said on his Twitter page. "Many countries in the running to host Champions League. We will keep you posted as and when we decide." Modi went on to list Australia, England, India and the Middle East as the other possible contenders to host the 2010 tournament.

"The Champions League has been conceived to be a travelling tournament, we have also spoken to Australia, the ECB and the BCCI to affirm whether they are ready to host," Modi told Sky Sports News. "I think what happened is the (South African) board approved that they would like to host it and South Africa definitely is in hot contention for that without doubt. The decision is still to be decided upon by the Champions League board."

CSA, however, had issued a release following a board meeting on Friday which said it was "our turn to host the tournament" and that it would take place across three venues, two of which would be the home grounds of the Standard Bank Pro20 finalists this year.

"CSA is a shareholder in the Champions League, along with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Australian Cricket Association (ACA), and it is our turn to host the tournament," the release said.

Mtutuzeli Nyoka, the CSA president, was quoted in the release as saying: "This is a prestigious tournament involving seven of the world's top cricket nations. It will be another feather in South Africa's cap as a host of world-class sports events and will not clash in any way with the FIFA World Cup 2010. It will also be a big boost to the local franchises, their players and supporters which will feature in the tournament."

The CSA release also said "the 12-team tournament comprises the top sides in the domestic limited-overs competitions in the following countries" and mentioned the number of participants from each country, which did not include a team from Pakistan. Modi, however, said who would be invited to play was not yet decided. "Invitation to CL will be decided at next Governing Council meeting," he said on Twitter. "Number of teams to play also will be decided then. The dates are confirmed."

The participation of England players and county teams remains in doubt, for the tournament clashes with England's home one-day series against Pakistan, the final two rounds of County Championship matches, plus the semi-finals and final of the ECB40 competition. Modi had said the dates were the only window available for the event, as India are due to play Australia in a one-day series in early October, and hoped the ECB could make minor adjustments to their domestic schedule, which the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, ruled out.

The Champions League Twenty20 is run by the boards of India, Australia and South Africa and its governing council comprises representatives from each board. Other countries participate in the tournament by invitation.

South Africa had hosted the IPL in 2009, after the tournament was moved out of India as it clashed with the country's general elections.