November 05, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 23, 1428

KARACHI, Nov 4: An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation, in Pakistan to look at the organisation of next year’s Champions Trophy, has cut short its tour because of the imposition of a state of emergency.

Delegation member Samiul Hasan said on Sunday the tour was being curtailed because of the political situation in Pakistan.

“We will return and complete the assessment tour later on,” Sami said.

The delegation visited Lahore and Sheikhupura and was due to go to Rawalpindi and Karachi, all venues which will host the Champions Trophy practice and main matches.

President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in the country on Saturday suspending the constitution.

In recent years Pakistan has faced objections from visiting teams to playing at some venues because of security concerns.

South Africa completed a tour of Pakistan after initially showing reluctance over security fears. They played a three-day tour match and a Test in Karachi on their recent tour.

However, the tourists refused to play the fifth and final One-day International in Karachi where twin suicide attacks on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming parade on Oct 18 killed 139 people.

The match was later played in Lahore.—Agencies