DUBAI, July 17: International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday welcomed Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to participate in ICC Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in 2007.

ICC President Percy Sonn said: “BCCI's decision is excellent news for cricket as it ensures inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve all ICC Full Members.

“That means winning team can truly call itself best in the world in this exciting new form of the game. Twenty20 cricket has been a huge success wherever it has been played and this short and sharp event of just nine playing days will provide a global focus for new format.

“We congratulate BCCI on joining other Full Members in embracing format and look forward to a world-class tournament in South Africa that will capture cricketing public's imagination,” he said.

ICC confirmed 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Championship will involve not only 10 Full Members but also two leading Associate sides.

Those two teams will be decided at next January's ICC World Cricket League Division One in Kenya involving Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Holland and Scotland.

Sonn said: “This decision gives an added context to World Cricket League and provides our leading Associate sides with a massive incentive in Kenya.

“The two teams that qualify will have opportunity to showcase themselves on both a national and global level, something that should provide a massive boost for their own development programs.”

The format, venues and dates for ICC Twenty20 World Championship will be announced in due course.—Agencies