After months of uncertainty due to security concerns, finally ICC board has given a green signal for staging the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, bringing an end to all the speculations as to which country will host this tournament. The tournament will be held in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from September 11 to 28.
The decision was taken during a teleconference on Thursday where the western block needed seven votes to shift the venue from Pakistan, the Asian block led by India remain united and thwarted all the attempts made by the western block to change the host country, in the meeting all the security concerns and different security reports were thoroughly discussed and Pakistan’s view point regarding those concerns was heard.
The board also established a task team to manage those concerns and perceptions and to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the ICC’s independent security advisors and to liaise with various stakeholders.
The players from South Africa, NewZealand, Australia and England have threatened to pull out if the tournament is hosted in Pakistan, its yet to be seen how the boards of these countries respond to such threats. It is expected that NewZealand and Australia might send their B teams to Pakistan as in those countries life of junior players is not as precious as that of the senior players. Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998.
Some uncertainty still looms as the ICC has set a task force to oversee the implementation of the recomendations of the security experts and a deadline of August 10th has been set.
“If it’s a battle of legality and logic, we have won it,” PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.
“But if still they say that they have reservations, what can we do?”
The host broadcaster ESPN Star also wanted the Champions Trophy shifted otherwise it faced huge losses if forced to televise a second-rate event if the Western block countries send their B teams.
Despite hosting Asia cup and several international series successfully during the last six months its unfortunate that Pakistan still has to prove that it’s a safe venue for International cricket.
Good news… the last I heard on this was India and Sri lanka were to host but then a lot of bombs exploded here making it no different. If any nation send their second string team, they ought to be canned in any possible way.
Welcome back Abdul:
It’s good news but still there is uncertainty everything will become clear by August 10th.
Most of the players want to tour Pakistan, these guys are running out of excuses, if the tournament is canceled or shifted it will split international cricket for a long time.
The boards of these countries are following instructions from their foreign offices they are just using the players as an excuse, Graeme Smith who toured Pakistan not too long ago is also expressing his fears, isn’t it strange that he toured when conditions were quite volatile and now when things have improved he is expressing his concerns.
Great news to see Pakistan able to host the champions trophy which is great news for the Pakistani public despite all the concerns other countries might have.
SP the western block had no choice left after India and Sril lanka supported Pakistan. Better sense would have prevailed if they had accepted the decision wholeheartedly, they are still trying to avoid the tour. ICC has made it easier for them to escape by removing the penalties, now its just a matter of time when these guys will announce that they are pulling out.
its good news and must say that better sense has prevailed…now if only this version of CT comes out as cracker it will be egg on lots of faces…