The International Cricket Council has assured the Pakistan Cricket Board
that 2008 Champions Trophy would be held in Pakistan as scheduled from September
10, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said today.
Ashraf, who returned after a meeting with ICC officials including acting Chief
Executive Dave Richardson in Dubai, said the tournament would be held under
the cover of a security plan which would be finalised by the hosts and the ICC.
"We also had some reservations over some issues which have now been cleared.
We have been assured the tournament would not be moved from Pakistan,"
he said.
Pakistan is due to host the star studded event for the first time but as per
the ICC regulations, an ICC security delegation will pay a visit to the host
country in June to give the final clearance over security conditions and arrangements
for the event.
If the ICC delegation gives a negative report on the security situation in
Pakistan the tournament can be shifted to standby country, Sri Lanka.
But after June once it is decided Pakistan would host the tournament even if
conditions get bad, the tournament can only be cancelled or postponed but not
shifted due to logistical issues.
Ashraf said the ICC security delegation was due to visit from late May and
would be given a detailed briefing on the arrangements and security plans for
the Champions Trophy.
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