July 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 19, 1429

LONDON, July 22: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it cannot guarantee the participation of all its players in the Champions Trophy unless the tournament is shifted from Pakistan.

England is the fourth country to give such a warning after Australia, New Zealand and South Africa shared their concerns over security in Pakistan. A final decision on the venue is scheduled to be made by teleconference this week.

According to The Times, advice from the British Foreign Office about Pakistan, which is displayed on its website, reads: “There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan.”

Among the cities with a “heightened threat to Westerners” are the venues of Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore.

England players will be briefed by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) before the start of the third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday.—Agencies