New Zealand welcome Trophy delay

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan is happy with the ICC decision

New Zealand have welcomed the International Cricket Council’s decision to postpone the ICC Champions Trophy following security concerns in Pakistan.

The ICC board on Sunday unanimously agreed to postpone the eight-team tournament, which was scheduled to take place from September 12-28, until October 2009.

Pakistan remain the host nation for the tournament, but the ICC maintain the right to review the situation “if other members continued to express reservations over issues of safety and security”.

The decision was taken on Sunday after a teleconference between ICC board members, who will meet again in September to discuss details of the postponement.

South Africa had already opted out of participating due to security concerns, while the players’ associations from England, Australia and New Zealand had expressed reservations about playing in Pakistan at the present time.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan backed the postponement and expressed hope that the tournament can be played in Pakistan in a more stable environment in 2009.

“The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated during the year and postponement was the right decision,” Vaughan said.

“We were concerned about the situation in Pakistan and felt that if we continued to work through the process put in place by the ICC that the right decision would be reached.”

He added: “By postponing the tournament until October next year there is time for the security situation in Pakistan to improve or for a suitable alternative venue to be chosen.

“We appreciate the difficulties that this decision will cause the Pakistan Cricket Board and hope that the Champions Trophy can be held there in 2009.”

The New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association also expressed their relief after the ICC’s decision.

NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills said: “We’re pretty delighted with it.

“We’ve had a strong view all along that our players shouldn’t be going to Pakistan at this point in time so to get this decision is a good one for us."