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Pakistan will voice concern over their players’ safety at the ICC Champions Trophy in India with the International Cricket Council (ICC) following last month’s bombings in Mumbai.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told ‘The News’ here on Monday that the Board would continue monitoring the situation in India following the train bombings in Mumbai and in the meantime inform the ICC about its concerns over the security situation.

A series of bombing on Mumbai trains and stations on July 11 killed 182 people and injured over 800. The terrorist attacks were blamed on Muslim groups and are seen as a blow for the peace process between Pakistan and India.

Saleem Altaf, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, admitted in such circumstances, Pakistan would wait and see what transpires in the coming weeks ahead of the Champions Trophy to be played from October 7 to November 5.

However, he dismissed the possibility of a Pakistani pull-out from the tournament at this point in time. “It is too early to talk about any such possibility,” said Altaf pointing out that there were more than ten weeks to go in the start of the Champions Trophy.

“The safety of the players is the most important issue and we would take all possible steps to ensure their security,” Altaf said. “The recent bombings in Mumbai is a cause for concern but we are confident that the ICC would take care of the players’ safety issue,” he added.

Pakistan are one of the competing teams in the ten-nation Champions Trophy which India plan to host in four different centres including Mumbai. The Indian business hub, also a base of anti-Pakistan Hindu groups, would be the venue for the Champions Trophy final besides hosting some pool matches.

But Altaf pointed out that Pakistan are not scheduled to play any of their group matches in Mumbai. Pakistan, placed in Group B with South Africa, New Zealand and a team from the qualifiers, would play their two group matches in Jaipur and Mohali.

Following the Mumbai bombings, a top Australian cricket official put a question mark on his team’s participation in the tournament pointing out at his country’s foreign affairs department was advising their nationals against travelling to India. The statement that came from Paul March, Chief Executive of Australia Cricketers Association was later over-ruled by Cricket Australia (CA) President Creagh O’ Connor who confirmed last week his team would participate in the ICC Champions Trophy. The ICC is expecting to raise US$65 million from the Champions Trophy.
Source:The News