Edgbaston selected to host one of cricket’s biggest games
WARWICKSHIRE’S Edgbaston Stadium has been selected to host one of the cricket world’s most high profile one-day finals.
The Birmingham ground will host the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy final on June 23, 2013.
The world’s top eight One Day International teams participate in The ICC Champions Trophy – including England, Australia and India amongst others – and Edgbaston is the first venue outside of London to host the final of an official ICC event.
Colin Povey, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium, said: “Staging the final of such a prestigious tournament as the ICC Champions Trophy is not just fantastic news for Edgbaston, but for the city of Birmingham, which will host many of the world’s greatest players and their supporters during the course of the competition.
“The £32m redevelopment of Edgbaston was designed to bring great tournaments and the world’s biggest cricket matches like to the city, so we are delighted to be chosen for the final.”
The award of the game goes some way towards softening the blow to administrators of the loss of the all-important Ashes test match.
The ground has a strong heritage for hosting some of the best ODI’s in recent memory. It hosted five matches in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004, including a semi-final where England famously beat Australia by six wickets and ended their run of 14 consecutive ODI defeats by their Ashes rivals. In 1999 the venue also staged the legendary tied World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “It is fantastic to hear that Edgbaston Stadium will be hosting the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, underlining its status as one of the world’s premier cricket grounds.
“Clearly, it is a major coup for the city, and I am delighted for everyone at Edgbaston.”
Inward investment chiefs have also welcomed the decision.
Neil Rami, Chief Executive, Marketing Birmingham said: “Sport is one of the greatest means of promoting a city’s name and image across the world, so the decision to award Edgbaston Stadium with five matches of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy, including the final, will provide invaluable global exposure for Birmingham.
“Edgbaston’s recent £32m redevelopment cemented Birmingham as the home of sport in this country, with the city boasting an unrivalled sporting heritage and playing host to more national, European and world sporting championships than anywhere else in the UK.
“We look forward to welcoming fans to a number of exciting and diverse sporting events in the region in the coming months, including Diamond League athletics and international tennis at the Edgbaston Priory Club.”
