ICC postpones Champions Trophy in Pakistan
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The International Cricket Council has postponed next month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan (ICC) until October 2009.
The eight-team tournament was scheduled to take place in Pakistan from September 12-28, but South Africa had already pulled out on Friday because of security fears. England, Australia and New Zealand had also expressed doubts about playing in Pakistan at the present time.
David Morgan, the ICC president, said there was "complete support and sympathy" for the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"However, there was also a realisation that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete had reservations about touring there which could not be removed.
The ICC continuously declared Pakistan as safe to host the Trophy and earlier this month confined the tournament to two venues - Lahore and Karachi - dropping Rawalpindi as security could not be assessed in the city.
Pakistan successfully staged the six-nation Asia Cup with India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and the hosts competing in June-July this year to press claims to stage the Champions Trophy.
However since then a suicide bombing in Islamabad, a series of blasts in Karachi and twin blasts at an arms manufacturing factory near Islamabad on Thursday killed more than 100 people in all and sealed the fate of the tournament.
The ICC last month announced it would keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan despite security fears and appointed an eight-man task team to convince the reluctant teams.
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