Extra fixture added to Aus tour

27 Nov 2008

The postponement of the T20 Champions League has led to an extra warm-up match being scheduled ahead of the Proteas’ first Test against Australia.

The event was meant to take place from 3-11 December but the spate of attacks yesterday that left at least 100 people dead and 300 wounded in seven separate incidents created logistical problems for the organisers. The English cricket team have also postponed the rest of their ODI series in the country, while the Test series is also in danger of being called off.

Six Proteas players who would have been involved will now head to Australia with the rest of the squad on 6 December. In addition to the two-day match against Western Australia on 13 December the Proteas are likely to play a one-day match with no restriction of overs at the Test venue, the Waca in Perth, on 10 December.

“It is regrettable that the governing council of the Champions League had to take this decision but they had no choice in the circumstances,” said Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa. “The safety of the players is of paramount importance at all times.

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

Lalit Modi, the organiser of the IPL and Champions League, said finding a replacement venue for Mumbai was problematic. It is hoped the event will be held early next year but finding a period to fit in with the international schedule could be a hindrance, but Modi remains upbeat.

“We are confident that we can hold the tournament early next year,” Modi told Cricinfo.

“India will remain the venue, as there was never a problem with hosting it here. All the teams agreed that they wanted to come for the tournament. But we had a problem with finding a third venue after Mumbai. There was no way we could have shifted the venue to Bangalore or Chennai, considering the state of the wickets and the grounds would not have accommodated all the matches.”

Graeme Smith (Rajasthan Royals) and Makhaya Ntini (Chennai Super Kings) were meant to join the Titans and Dolphins in India.



13 Comments

  • 1.EEE: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 10:25 am

    Blue dragons

  • 2.EEE: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 10:26 am

    Pity, think it will be an exciting competition.

  • 3.SexyTime: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 11:35 am

    Cricket is ***.

  • 4.superbok: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 13:08 pm

    Why not just move it to SA, Australia or somewhere like Dubai? It needs to go ahead. Moving it to next year will just make things more congested.

  • 5.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 13:28 pm

    masudavorajee, commiserations on what is going on in your country mate.

  • 6.fish out of water: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 14:06 pm

    South Africa seems to be capitulating in the cricket.

  • 7.Lynib: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 16:04 pm

    I think they souldnt of done it this year… They should of made it next year because theres to much cricket happening… I was looking forward to watching this ICL and I was looking forward to watch other cricket like the Australia and South Africa, India against England, MTN domestic championship and now the ICL!! TOOO MUCH CRICKET!!! But who doesnt like it!!

  • 8.tokolosi: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 18:58 pm

    extra practice match could be the blessing in disguise our boys need!

  • 9.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 19:01 pm

    #3 SexyTime: I think not!!

  • 10.Cricketlover: Reply to this comment
    27 Nov 2008, 19:48 pm

    #3 SexyTime: That name is pretty “***” as wel.

    This is great news, I was worried about the IPL boys. The extra match can only be good for us.

  • 11.Koos: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2008, 02:36 am

    #4 superbok: Because India wants to make the money, simple as that!

    On the flipside, excellent news for us, even if it is only one extra day it will still help us in the preparations for the test.

  • 12.SexyTime: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2008, 08:25 am

    #9 carol:
    #10 Cricketlover:
    I was biggest Cricket fan EVER until April 2007. Couldn’t BELIEVE what happened. Disappointment upon disappointment. I’ll still watch cricket and go to the stadiums, but my PASSION 4 it is blunted.

  • 13.jdjames: Reply to this comment
    28 Nov 2008, 10:05 am

    #12 SexyTime: And why is that??? Cause SA lose all the time in critical moments?

    If you passion is only fired with success maybe u weren’t fired up initially.

    Just a thought.

    Disappointment is one thing – Passion is another.

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