ICC to move Champions Trophy?
2008-07-20 16:48
New Delhi - The International Cricket
Council's (ICC) executive board will decide this week whether or
not to shift September's Champions Trophy out of Pakistan
because of security issues, the governing body said on Sunday.
The decision was taken after concerns raised at an ICC
security briefing in Dubai for representatives of the eight
participating teams, the international players' association FICA
and official broadcasters ESPN STAR Sport.
"While there was recognition the PCB (Pakistan Cricket
Board) had gone to great lengths to provide a high level of
security during the Asia Cup and would do so again during the
ICC Champions Trophy, concerns were expressed about the
potential for threats beyond the PCB's control," the ICC said in
a statement.
"These concerns will now be taken to the ICC Board during
the course of this week with the Board then arriving at a
definitive decision on the location of this year's Champions
Trophy.
"Until or unless the Board decides otherwise, the tournament
will proceed in Pakistan."
Very thorough process
The tournament is scheduled from Sept 11-28.
Haroon Lorgat, CEO of the ICC, said he was confident a good
decision would be taken.
"It is a difficult one in that you can never be kind of
satisfied with compromise on safety and security issues," Lorgat
told Reuters by telephone from Dubai after the briefing.
"It is not something that we can treat lightly," he said.
"We are confident we can work this one through.
"We'll go through a very thorough process when we finally
decide because we have done a thorough homework," said Lorgat.
Sunday's briefing was provided by the ICC's security
consultants, who had studied arrangements made for the Asia Cup
which ended this month, with the PCB also outlining its security
plans.
England, Australia and New Zealand have voiced concerns
after bomb attacks in Pakistan over the past several months.
Lorgat said no team had threatened to pull out or demanded a
venue switch at the security briefing.
- Reuters