ICC welcomes BCCI's decision to play in Twenty20 World Championship

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to participate in the ICC Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in 2007.

ICC President Percy Sonn said: "The BCCI's decision is excellent news for cricket as it ensures the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve all ICC Full Members.

"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," added Mr Sonn.

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.