Cricketnext
With inputs from PTI

New Delhi, Jul 24: The ICC executive board, after a teleconference that lasted more than two hours on Thursday, has decided that the security situation in Pakistan is safe enough to hold the Champions Trophy next month and there is no need for the tournament to be relocated.

The International Cricket Council said the decision must be viewed in the "larger interest of the game."

"The ideal scenario is that without compromising on the safety and security of the players, the tournament is held in Pakistan.

"The members must view this decision in the larger interest of the game and make this important tournament a success," the official ICC statement said.

The Board members discussed the security reports and considered the concerns of some members and stakeholders before announcing that the event would not be shifted out of its original venue.

"In recognising those concerns and perceptions, the Board agreed they needed to be managed going forward, both before and during the tournament. In order to do this, the Board decided to establish a task team," the ICC statement said.

The task force would liaise with various stakeholders, including embassies within Pakistan and other Governments, on an ongoing basis to ensure effective communication and the management of any concerns that may exist.

ICC President David Morgan, President-Elect Sharad Pawar, Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat, the Principal Advisor IS Bindra, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf, and representatives of ICC's Broadcast Partner ESPN STAR Sports, its independent security advisors and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) are members of the task force.

While Pakistan had the clear support of the three other Asian members - India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - players from Australia, New Zealand and England have showed reservations over participating in the tournament.