JOHANNESBURG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - The International Cricket Council denied Thursday that a rebel Twenty20 series in India was in danger of stealing some of the thunder from September`s inaugural world championship in South Africa.

'It`s a local thing, it`s not a threat,' ICC cricket manager Dave Richardson said at a launch party for the Twenty20 world championships which begin in Johannesburg on September 11.

'It doesn`t conflict with what we are trying to do in South Africa. It is not an international tournament.'

JOHANNESBURG, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - New International Cricket Council supremo Ray Mali hailed Twenty20 as the game of the future Thursday at the official launch for September`s inaugural world championships in South Africa.

With dwindling crowd numbers for both Test match and one-day internationals, the ICC is placing huge stock on the first ever championships for a shorter version of the game that Mali said would capture everyone`s imagination.

'Without any doubt this is a great concept, it is a game of the future,' Mali said at a glitzy launch party in Johannesburg.

KARACHI, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - The International Cricket Council Thursday announced the umpires and match referees for the inaugural Twenty20 world championships, excluding five involved in April`s shambolic World Cup final.

'A total of three ICC match referees and nine umpires will officiate during the 27-match Twenty20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from 11-24 September in South Africa,' an ICC press release said.