ICC Champions Trophy faces pullout threat

Holders Australia and other key nations could pull out of the sixth Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council decided to go ahead with the tournament in Pakistan, officials said on Friday. The Australian and New Zealand players' associations called on their country's governing bodies not to send teams to Pakistan, while England players will be asked if they want to travel.
The ICC said on Thursday it would appoint a commission to ensure security at the September 11-28 showpiece, but it was not enough to quash concerns about the threat of militant attacks in Pakistan.
"We've gone through this with a fine-tooth comb and we don't think the risk to go to Pakistan is acceptable. I am very hopeful Cricket Australia (CA) will make that decision," Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) Chief Executive Paul Marsh said. "It would be unfair to put that decision back on the players and it would be inconsistent to put that decision back on players given what's happened in the past," he said.
Marsh said the ACA was "disappointed" with the ICC's decision and was still seeking clarity on the security task force proposed by the sport's global governing body. Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi told AFP:"Yes, we are relieved and more focused now that a decision has finally been made, although we always had confidence in the wisdom of the ICC board.
"I hope the task force would allay the fears of all the individuals and, by overseeing our arrangements, keep us well prepared for a successful event," Naghmi said. The eight-member task force, headed by ICC President David Morgan, is likely to visit Pakistan next month.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said late on Thursday that the prospect of pullouts was an "obvious concern", but urged players not to withdraw, saying the ICC would do all in its power to ensure their safety.
"It's not something that I treat lightly, but I think it's something that we can manage," Lorgat told reporters in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. But the ACA's Marsh said the ICC's decision was bad for the game. "If it (the tournament) continues in Pakistan at this volatile time, unfortunately many of the world's best players won't participate, which is not a good outcome for cricket," he said.