The scheduled Champions Trophy has been called off by the ICC due to security concerns in Pakistan.

ICC president David Morgan announced the postponement of Champions Trophy which was to be held in September2008, in Pakistan. ICC had to call off the Champions Trophy as the   players from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England showed their reluctance to play in Pakistan.  Political turmoil in Pakistan scared the players and they boycotted the Champions Trophy for security reasons. The players were having apprehensions for security issues and so the cricket authorities came into pressure to call off the Champions Trophy till October 2009.

Though ICC was aware of the fears of the players for months but it could not appease the players for playing the trophy in Pakistan.  Some players from the top teams showed their unwillingness to play in Champions Trophy for security reasons in Pakistan. They confessed their apprehensions publicly and officially. ICC succumbed to their demands and called off the trophy where eight teams were to participate.

The Pakistan board however claimed to have enough security measures but the players remained adamant on their demands and in the last hour, the pulling off South African team from the Champions Trophy, compelled ICC to declare its postponement till October, 2009.  

President David Morgan clarified it by saying that ICC could not remove the fears of the players about their Pakistan tour but it has all the sympathy for the Pakistan cricket board. In a teleconference of ICC executive board he said, “There was complete support and sympathy for the Pakistan Cricket Board and the situation it finds itself in, which is not of its making," "However, there was also a realization that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy had reservations about touring there which could not be removed.” In those circumstances it was considered prudent to postpone the event to October 2009, a time when we all hope conditions may be more acceptable for all the competing teams," he said.

In this scenario Pakistan has lost the chance to host the prestigious Champions Trophy due to violent situation, hostile environment and political upheaval in the country, but Calling off this event is really a big blow to the Pakistan cricket board.  Now the players are more concerned for their safety and it has been realized by the world cricket authority.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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