August 24, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Pakistan’s hopes of hosting next month’s ICC Champions Trophy received a huge setback on Saturday when three major cricket playing countries - England, New Zealand and Australia - also decided to withdraw from the event citing security concerns.

Highly-placed sources in the Sports Ministry confirmed that the three nations had withdrawn from the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held from September 12-28 in Lahore and Karachi.

“It’s over for Pakistan at the moment but the Ministry of Sports officials have been discussing Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) options as well as ways of holding the event in Pakistan at any other time.

Even West Indies, he said, had now joined the bandwagon of the cricket-playing nations which have expressed serious security concerns about playing the Champions Trophy in the country due to the prevailing law and order situation here.

“During the briefing it was decided that Federal Sports Minister Najamuddin Khan will meet the ambassadors of the three defecting countries to impress upon them that Pakistan is a safe country and there are no security threats to their cricketers during the event,” the source added.

PCB COO Shafqat Naghmi briefed the Ministry of Sports top officials here at the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Saturday about the individual players from New Zealand, Australia and England raising security concerns over having to play in Pakistan.

Naghmi, speaking to Dawn later, said: “We have given a comprehensive briefing to the Federal Sports Minister Najamuddin Khan and Secretary Sports Ashraf Khan about the recent meetings with the ICC officials in Dubai and the outcome of the teleconference.”

When asked about a possible boycott from England, Australia and New Zealand of the event, he said: “Yes, we think there is likely to be a formal announcement of their withdrawal to be made sometime now.”

When asked if the event could be shifted to any other venue, the PCB COO said: “We will not let this happen as we have taken a firm stance on holding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

“But if such a decision is made by the governing body, we reserve the right to boycott the ICC Champions Trophy,” he added.