Venue vote may split world cricket

New Delhi: The ICC Champions Trophy may be under threat if the Asian bloc insists that Pakistan hosts the premier event as scheduled in September.

Teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England are likely to refuse to attend despite likely fines of $10 million each for failing to support an ICC event.

This follows advise to travellers from their governments to avoid visiting the South Asian country as well as doubts from their players’ associations.

"Based on expert reports read and heard during Sunday's meeting there is no way the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) can recommend touring Pakistan at this time," ACA chief executive, Paul Marsh, was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper.

"We still have serious concerns about travelling to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy," said Heath Mills, executive manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, according to The Australian.

Sri Lanka was originally put on stand-by as a venue, but violence there led to England and South Africa being sounded as alternate venues.

But only a vote of seven out of 10 Test playing countries can move the tournament to another venue.

The biennial Champions Trophy, originally called the mini World Cup, is to be held from September 11 to 28 at Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

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