South Africa to host Champions League

South Africa hosted the CLT20 in 2010 as well.

South Africa is set to be the host of this year's Champions League T20 in October, with Cape Town, Johannesburg, Centurion and Durban as the venues.

Sundar Raman, a member of the CLT20's technical committee, tweeted: "South Africa will host CLT20 this year. All other details to follow soon."

The CLT20, the most lucrative club-cricket tournament in the world, is now in its fourth year, and it will be the second time that it is held in South Africa. India had hosted the tournament in the other two years, and were originally frontrunners to hold the competition in 2012 as well.

In October, South Africa's summer will just be beginning which means temperatures will warm up into the 20s for Johannesburg and Centurion. Durban will be its usual warm self while Cape Town can be expected to be cooler, as it was for last year's Australia Test. The pitches will be fairly lively up on the Highveld (Johannesburg and Centurion), while Durban should also help quick bowlers.

The governing council of the CLT20 had met last month in an attempt to finalise the format and venue of this season's tournament, but hadn't been able to reach a decision. One confirmed change from last season is the inclusion of Sialkot Stallions, Pakistan's domestic champions.

The other teams which have made it to, at least the qualifying stage of the tournament, are: Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians (all four from the IPL), Auckland Aces (from New Zealand), Trinidad & Tobago (from West Indies), Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers (both from Australia's Big Bash League), Titans, Lions (both from South Africa). The representatives from Sri Lanka and England will be decided after next month's Sri Lanka Premier League and the ongoing Friends Life t20.