the Champions Trophy due to security concerns. Two days later, on 24 August 2008, after speculation that the tournament would be held elsewhere (England, Sri Lanka, or South Africa), the ICC announced that the tournament would be postponed until October 2009. At its meeting in February 2009, the ICC board decided to move the tournament out of Pakistan on security concerns. At the time, Sri Lanka was the favoured alternate host. In March 2009, the ICC Chief Executives' Committee recommended to the ICC board that the tournament be held in South Africa as there were concerns that the weather in Sri Lanka during September and October could result in too many games being washed out. The ICC board ratified the recommendation, and the event took place in South Africa between 22 September and 5 October 2009. Venues Wanderers Stadium and Centurion Park, both in the Johannesburg area, were announced as venues for the tournament. Rules and regulations The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy was contested by the top eight teams (previously 10) that had been seeded and divided into two groups. No associates nations participated in this tournament. Each team played every other team in its group once. Points were allocated for each match in accordance with the system described below which applied throughout the competition. Following the group stage, the top two teams from each group progressed to the semi-finals, where the winner of Group A played the runner up of Group B (in the 1st semi-final) and the winner of Group B played the runner up of Group A (in the 2nd semi-final). The winners of the semi-finals contested the final. Points system Squads Group stage Group A The top 2 teams qualified for the Knockout stage Advanced to Knockout stage Group B The top 2 teams qualified for the Knockout stage Advanced to Knockout stage Knockout stage Semi-finals Final Statistics Batting Most runs Bowling Most wickets See also ICC Champions Trophy References External links Official website Tournament schedule at Cricinfo.com ICC Champions Trophy tournaments Champions Trophy Champions Trophy Cricket ICC Champions Trophy ICC Champions Trophy