Mumbai attacks scupper first Champions League

This year's edition of the Twenty20 Champions League tournament has been cancelled over security concerns following last month's Mumbai attacks, organisers said yesterday.

The inaugural edition of the £4m event, involving eight teams from five countries, will now be staged in October 2009, an official announced.

However, the League chairman, Lalit Modi, said various issues, including scheduling, were considered before taking the decision.

"The inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will now be held in India in October 2009," Modi, the Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president, said in a statement. "The governing council, comprising the founder board members, took this collective decision after taking into account all aspects."

The governing council, including the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards, also took into consideration the busy international calendar and domestic schedules of the participating teams, it added.

Teams from Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa and India were due to have played in the event originally scheduled from 3 to 10 December in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. At least 179 people were killed in the three-day siege in Mumbai from 26 November, triggering fears on player safety before the initial postponement.