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Whatever Pakistani skipper Shoaib Malik say or whatever explanations PCB chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf gives to the International Cricket Council’s Haroon, the truth is that ICC has decided to shift the Champion’s Trophy from Pakistan, though they still have to decide the alternative venue, which would likely to be South Africa.

Senior Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden has joined Andrew Symonds and has told Cricket Australia that he won’t be available for the Champion’s Trophy if it is held in Pakistan.

Champion’s Trophy is the year’s biggest one-day tournament, and it was a dream tournament for the Pakistan Cricket Board, and even Pakistani government was hoping to have this tournament carry on in the country to bolster the image amidst the war on terror, but now it all seems a distant and elusive desire.

This tournament is featuring the top eight Test nations, and is due to be held from September 11 to 28, but Australia, England and New Zealand have raised fears about playing in Pakistan. International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said on Monday the ICC would soon decide whether to go ahead with the tournament in Pakistan, or move it elsewhere.

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