22 Jul 2008

Decision this week if Pakistan to host ICC Champions Trophy

12:39 pm on 22 July 2008

The International Cricket Council will decide this week whether Pakistan can host the Champions Trophy in September amid security fears in the country.

The year's biggest one-day tournament features the top eight Test nations -- Australia, South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies.

It is scheduled to be held in Pakistan September 11-28.

But Australia, England and New Zealand have raised concerns about security in Pakistan, which is battling militants in tribal areas where Washington has said Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants have created sanctuaries.

The ICC held a meeting on Sunday at its Dubai headquarters to inform the teams of the security arrangements made by Pakistan in the Asia Cup in June-July and its plans for the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan held a peaceful six-nation Asian event from June 24 to July 6.

However, a suicide bomb blast in capital Islamabad earlier this month killed 19 people and a series of small bombings rocked the port city of Karachi, which renewed security fears.

Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi are home to the three Trophy venues.

Sri Lanka, the designated alternative venue for the tournament, is also facing renewed violence between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops.

South Africa and England have been tipped as potential alternate locations for the event.