ECB and ICC announce venues for Champions Trophy

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the ICC today announced the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy, taking place in September 2004.

The Oval, Edgbaston and The Rosebowl are the three grounds which will stage the 15-match tournament, taking place from September 10 to 25, with rain days scheduled for all matches. Teams will be seeded on the basis of their official one-day international ratings on December 1, 2003.

"The ICC is very pleased that the ECB will be hosting this showpiece tournament next year", Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, said." Using the official ODI ratings is the fairest way to seed teams. This system ensures that all teams are treated in an equal manner as it provides an objective assessment of form over the last two to three years".

The tournament will be contested by the ten main countries along with Kenya and the winner of the ICC Six Nations Challenge, to be played in the United Arab Emirates in March 2004.

Tim Lamb, the ECB chief executive, said: "The ECB is looking forward to welcoming the world's top teams here next year and the ICC Champions Trophy will provide a terrific climax to our summer of international cricket throughout England and Wales in 2004".