Cape Town, June 13 :

The dates for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next year have been released. The tournament will be held over nine days between 21 and 30 September but the venues have yet to be confirmed.

A total of 12 countries will compete for the title to become the world’s first Twenty20 champions. Gerald Majola said South Africa Cricket was excited about staging it adding: “We will approach it in the same manner as we did the World Cup in 2003.” The chief executive added: “We have agreed that the tournament will take place in three cities but we have yet to decide where.”

The 20-over format was the brainchild of the England and Wales Cricket Board and was an instant success in county cricket when it was launched in 2003. On an international basis it has also been popular with South Africa fully embracing it with full houses at the majority of games.