The inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve all ICC full members after the Indian cricket's governing body agreed to participate in the 2007 tournament in South Africa..jpg)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) was the last one of the 10 full member of the international Cricket Council who had yet to make a decision whether to play at the Championships. But late Monday they agreed, much to the delight of ICC President Percy Sonn.
"The BCCI’s decision is excellent news for cricket as it ensures the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve all ICC Full Members," said Sonn.
"That means the winning team can truly call itself the best in the world in this exciting new form of the game."
"Twenty20 cricket has been a huge success wherever it has been played and this short and sharp event of just nine playing days will provide a global focus for the new format."
"We congratulate the BCCI on joining the other Full Members in embracing the format and look forward to a world-class tournament in South Africa that will capture the cricketing public’s imagination."
The ICC also confirmed the 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve not only the 10 Full Members but also the two leading Associate sides.
Those two teams will be decided at next January’s ICC World Cricket League Division One in Kenya that involves Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.
Mr Sonn said: “This decision gives an added context to the World Cricket League and provides our leading Associate sides with a massive incentive in Kenya.
"The two teams that qualify will have an opportunity to showcase themselves on both a national and global level, something that should provide a massive boost for their own development programs."
The format, venues and dates for the ICC Twenty20 World Championship will be announced in due course.
