ICC head moves to allay Pakistan security fears
Posted
Updated
Security fears: A number of Australian players have signalled their intentions to miss the event. (Getty Images: Ezra Shaw)
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat has urged Australian and international cricketers threatening to boycott the Champions Trophy in Pakistan to reconsider their stance.
Last night the ICC decided against moving September's one-day tournament from Pakistan to another venue.
Players from several countries including Australia had signalled their intentions to skip the tournament if it was not moved to another host country.
But Mr Lorgat says all possible measures will be taken to ensure player safety.
"We would want the best players to be there. In fact we would want all those players who would get selected by their respective countries to be there," he said.
"And we will do our utmost to try to allay the concerns and the fears and perhaps largely perceptions that some of these players might have about the safety and security in Pakistan."
Mr Lorgat says a special task force will be established to look after security at the event
"I think if you understand the basis on which we've made the decision to continue with Pakistan as host it might help allay the fears and perceptions of those players," he said.
"And the basis is pretty much around the task team that we've arranged to manage the security concern."
