CEO of International Cricket Council Haroon Lorgat speaks during a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday. The ICC has decided to hold the 2008 Champions Trophy in Pakistan as planned, despite security concerns. - AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP):

THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to allow the 2008 Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan as planned, despite security concerns.

The decision raises the possibility that players from Australia, New Zealand and England will refuse to play in the September tournament, forcing those countries to send weakened teams or pull out.

ICC president David Morgan said yesterday that he expected a number of countries to send depleted squads.

No guarantees

"A number of countries today made it clear, as things stand currently, they will find it difficult to guarantee that first-choice XIs or squads would be at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan," Morgan said.

"Currently, New Zealand have great doubts about the availability of many of their first-choice players. Once the task force comes to work, it could be New Zealand finds comfort in the work of the task force."

Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Nasim Ashraf said the 10 full ICC members gave Pakistan the green light to hold the tournament after a board meeting.

Security concerns

Pakistan's status as host of the September 11-28 tournament had been in jeopardy because national ruling bodies and player representatives from Australia, New Zealand and England had expressed concerns about security following a wave of suicide bombings and Islamic militancy over the past year.

Although militants have not targeted sporting events, Sri Lanka had been among alternative venues for what is set to be the largest international cricket event in Pakistan since it co-hosted the World Cup with India in 1996.

"I am thankful to all the ICC member countries for their wisdom and looking at the larger interest of the game," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf said. "Pakistan remains a safe place to organise sports events and we hope it will be a world-class event."

Ashraf said the ICC formed an eight-member task force that will visit Pakistan and check security measures are implemented.

"We will work in conjunction with embassies within Pakistan ... who are also working with the task force, to ensure their security recommendations are carried out to the full," Morgan said.

While Pakistan had the clear support of the three other Asian members, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, players from Australia, New Zealand and England have showed reservations over participating in the tournament.

No votes

"There wasn't a vote as such," Morgan said. "There was a consensus that the event should be staged in Pakistan."

Ashraf said in yesterday's teleconference that "countries clearly and frankly conveyed their reservations of the players".

Australia allrounder Andrew Symonds said he would not travel to Pakistan, and Cricket Australia seemingly expressed sympathy with his stance by indicating that players who decide against touring for safety fears would not face future selection repercussions.

That means players such as Symonds could skip the tour and return for the 2008-09 international season.

Australia fear

Australia is the only major Test-playing country that has not toured Pakistan over the past decade. It was scheduled to tour Pakistan in March-April, but rescheduled it until next year due to security concerns.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the task force would liaise with those players who have security concerns.

"We are going to separate perception from reality and, while those concerns exist in terms of players, we will do our utmost to assure them that we would not go into an event where safety and security is going to be compromised," he said.

"We know of no credible threat against the event or against any team. For that matter, any player or individual. So, we are quite confident that the conflict currently ongoing in Pakistan is pretty much government and militants related."