April 26, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1429

LAHORE, April 25: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation held discussions over the security plan, practice venues and affairs related to marketing September’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan here on Friday.

After the meeting, held at the Champions Trophy secretariat, the PCB Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan told reporters: “We discussed the security plan but further discussions on the subject are likely to take place when two more ICC delegations pay a visit to Pakistan.”

“A high-level ICC delegation is also expected to tour here in order to review security and other arrangements sometime next month,” Zakir added.

He informed that four practice venues, all of them in Lahore, were under discussion regarding practice sessions, three of which have almost been finalised.

“Bagh-i-Jinnah, Aitchison College and Muridke Academy are the three places that have almost been confirmed as practice venues under ICC’s chief curator Andy Atkinson’s report with Sheikhupura Stadium being considered as the fourth one,” Zakir said.

Before leaving, the two-member delegation headed by event manager Chris Tetley, was also given a briefing over marketing affairs.

The ICC players’ award ceremony, according to the director operations, would be held in Lahore on Sept 10, a day prior to the competition.

The Champions Trophy, which is being held in Pakistan for the first time, will have top eight ranking teams competing in it.