South African board puts financial rider to ICC proposal
Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), said a final decision would be taken by the South African board only after it received an official invitation - and, more importantly, found acceptable the ICC's financial model for the event
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2009
Gerald Majola (centre) believes government protocol will also have to be followed if the Champions trophy is to be held in South Africa • Getty Images
The South African board has said it will host the next Champions Trophy, if and when it is formally offered the tournament, but has attached a financial rider to the ICC's proposal. Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), said a final decision would be taken by the South African board only after it received an official invitation - and, more importantly, found acceptable the ICC's financial model for the event.
Under ICC protocol, its executive board has to first endorse Wednesday's recommendation by its Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to shift , due to weather concerns, the tournament from Sri Lanka to South Africa. The ICC will then extend an official invitation to CSA to host the event.
"We have asked the ICC to provide us with a financial model and our board will discuss the matter once we have received this model and an official ICC invitation," Majola said. "We would also have to follow the government protocols for hosting a major international event. If the finances and protocols are right and our board agrees to accept the invitation, we have the infrastructures and the expertise from recently hosting two ICC world championships to stage a successful tournament at short notice."
This is not the first time there's been an element of uncertainty over hosting the Champions Trophy. In 2002, the tournament was awarded to Sri Lanka after the Indian government refused to grant tax exemption for the event, as required by the ICC. Four years later, India and Pakistan were in the running to host the event, which was finally held in India after the government agreed to a tax exemption.
India had said then that it would not participate in future editions as the event is traditionally held during the peak cricket season - September-October. Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president, said holding the event in October cut into India's season and so affected revenue. The deadlock was subsequently resolved at the ICC level.
The Champions Trophy's financial model has been designed to generate revenue primarily for the ICC, which then pumps the money back into the development of the game worldwide.