LONDON: International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Thursday dismissed the notion that it was under the Asian bloc’s pressure that the ICC decided not to shift the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan despite security apprehensions among some players.

“No, that is not a true statement. I am glad to say I have listened to the debate but it is not necessarily on the lines of a divide in the ICC,” Lorgat told a Pakistani TV channel , dismissing talk about an Asian bloc in the ICC leading to Pakistan retaining the event.

Though he was hopeful that Pakistan would host a befitting and successful Champions Trophy, Lorgat defended the ICC decision to set up a task force to oversee the progress. “We have not set a time table for the task force to visit Pakistan but in the next day or two they will work out a plan and time table for their work including security recommendations,” he said.—Agencies