ECB backs Trophy decision

Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has welcomed the International Cricket Council’s decision to delay the ICC Champions Trophy until October 2009.

Clarke said after the ICC board teleconference held today: “The ECB supports the decision of the ICC to postpone the Champions Trophy until October 2009.

Chairman Giles Clarke expressed the ECB's support for the decision to delay the ICC Champions Trophy

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“The ECB made it clear to ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat at a meeting at Lord's last week that ECB had a duty of care for England players and officials as well as a desire to ensure the interests of the media and spectators were not compromised.

"The ECB explained their reservations and security concerns about staging the tournament in the aftermath of the resignation of the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last Monday. These concerns were shared by four other competing countries at yesterday's teleconference.

“The ECB recognises the outstanding efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board in attempting to mitigate the risks surrounding the Champions Trophy tournament and I will be meeting with the incoming chairman of the PCB, once an appointment is made, to discuss ways that our two boards can work together in the future.”