Ashraf pleased with decision

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf believes Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf hailed the “great decision” made by the International Cricket Council to allow the Champions Trophy to go ahead in the troubled nation as planned next month.

Several players had said they would opt out of the tournament if it was held in Pakistan due to security concerns.

But the ICC today confirmed that the competition would take place in Pakistan as scheduled from September 11 to 28, and Ashraf believes his country will not let them down.

"It is a great decision keeping in mind that there should be unity and no division of the cricket world," he said.

An ICC task force will head to Pakistan prior to the tournament to evaluate security measures in the cities that will play host to matches - Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.

"The ICC has decided to appoint a special task force which will visit Pakistan," Ashraf continued.

"We are committed to providing the kind of security which we have promised to the ICC and very soon the task team will tour Pakistan to ensure everything is in place.

"The task force will meet the top officials of the government and since there were concerns raised by some players of the member countries we will do everything to ensure that the best security is provided to all the stakeholders."

The decision was taken during an ICC board teleconference today, during which the PCB offered assurances over the safety of competitors.

Concerns were raised over Pakistan's suitability to stage the tournament in the wake of a spate of bombings in the country, the most recent coming in June when a suicide bomber killed 15 people in the capital Islamabad.

Ashraf added: "Pakistan is a safe country to play cricket and the security firm of the ICC gave us ‘A’ grade in the arrangements made during the Asia Cup."