Ending speculation on the venue of the Champions League Twenty20, Cricket South Africa on Friday said the country will host the multi-million dollar event from September 10-26.
The tournament, which was hosted in India last year, will feature 12 teams, including three from this year's Indian Premier League.
The competition will take place across three venues, two of which will be the home grounds of the Standard Bank Pro20 finalists this year.
"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," CSA President Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka said in a media release.
"It will also be a big boost to the local franchises, their players and supporters which will feature in the tournament."
However, it is still not clear whether England will send its County teams, for the Twenty20 tournament clashes with their one-day series against Pakistan, the final two rounds of County Championship matches, plus the semi-finals and final of the ECB40 competition.
CL T20 commissioner Lalit Modi had said the September 10-26 was the only window available for the event as India are due to play Australia in a one-day series in early October, and wanted England and Wales Cricket Board to make minor adjustments to their domestic schedule, which the ECB chairman Giles Clarke has 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.
