Watch ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Live

The prize money for ICC Champions Trophy 2009 has been increased 4 times and made it to $4 Million for tournament which will be played in september-october 2009.

ICC has also changed the format of the game and now game has only 15 matches to play. Also only 8 teams will take part instead of 10 teams like previous tournaments. This is the reason the tournament will be very short instead of its first version which lasted for approx. one month. There will be no qualifying rounds and all the matches of the tournament will be played at Centurion and Wanderers. Check out ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Schedule.

There are two groups in tournament and this time there will be no qualifying rounds. Top two teams from each groups will play into semi finals.

Group-A :

India, Pakistan, Australia and West Indies

Group-B :

South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand

Haroon Logard, the chief executive of the ICC, said “This short, sharp event, with its new format involving only the top eight sides in the world in nation-versus-nation action, should be a fantastic spectacle to follow on from the others that have already taken place in the ICC’s centenary year, We are extremely grateful to South Africa for stepping in to host the event after it was postponed last year because of security concerns in the original host country, Pakistan, and we are also grateful to our members for finding a slot for it in what is a busy year for the global game.”

Also the most awaited game of the tournament is between India and Pakistan as the both nations will play against each other after a long time.