Twenty20 cricket world cup in Sept next year

Johannesburg, June 12 (UNI) South Africa will host the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup between September 21 and 30 next year.

The 12-nation tournament will be played in three venues, which will be decided later.

South Africa Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Gerald Majola confirmed the dates after a meeting with ICC officials.

''We have agreed that the tournament will take place in three cities but we have yet to decide where,'' Majola told a South African newspaper.

''We will approach it in the same manner as we did the World Cup in 2003 in South Africa. The ICC sponsors will get preferential treatment in the stadiums where the games will be played.'' South Africa embraced Twenty20 competition in the 2004-05 domestic season and the format has been very popular in the country, with games attracting capacity crowds.

Wanderers Stadium here have hosted two Twenty20 internationals against Australia in April, with the home side winning both the games.

The 20-over format was the brainchild of the England and Wales Cricket Board and was an instant success in county cricket when it was launched in 2003.

England will host the second World Twenty20 competition in 2009.

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