Trophy: CSA to meet ICC

2008-08-19 17:38

Johannesburg - A delegation from the International Cricket Committee (ICC) is to hold talks on Friday with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to discuss the ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from September 12.

Several countries, including South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia have expressed concern about the safety of their players in the strife-torn country, and the tournament has been reduced to a two-venue event with Rawalpindi removed from the prospective venues.

Recent bomb blasts in Lahore have done little to ease fears about safety in Pakistan.

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in London on Tuesday the tournament will be cancelled rather than relocated if security and safety conditions deteriorate significantly.

Commercial and Sponsorships Manager Kass Naidoo told Sapa that an ICC delegation, including Lorgat, would meet the CSA executive on Friday.

"CSA will make its decision after that meeting," she said.

Lorgat, who is heading the ICC team, has already met with players and officials in New Zealand, Australia and England.

Earlier, AFP reported that ICC president David Morgan had expressed concern that some of the participating countries had not yet confirmed their participation, with less than a month to go.

Player-power

"It's a concern that we haven't yet had confirmation from all eight countries that they are prepared to go to Pakistan," said Morgan, who is in Beijing to attend the Olympic Games.

"Haroon Lorgat (the ICC chief executive) is in the UK currently, meeting the board of ECB on Tuesday. He is due in South Africa at the end of the week. The scheduled start time for the tournament is perilously close so, of course, I am concerned," Morgan, a former ECB chair, said.

Skysport reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board chair, Nasim Ashraf, had called on the ICC not to bow to player-power ahead of the tournament.

"Everything is set for the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and the ICC fully supports our security plans and planning," he said.

"It is only a few players who are grumbling and their concerns are emotional pressure not based on reasoning or logic."

Sri Lanka and England are reported to be on standby as alternative venues for the eight-team tournament.

- SAPA