Lahore, Jul 16: Dismissing the reservations of some foreign players over the security concerns in Pakistan, the PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi has assured that the Champions Trophy will be hosted in the country as scheduled.

''Under the current situation I am quite confident that Pakistan will host the next ICC Champions Trophy as per schedule in September,'' Shafqat said on Tuesday July 15. The ICC has been keeping a close watch on the the security situation in Pakistan and is yet to take a final decision on the final venue for the tournament.

Earlier, Sri Lanka was kept as an open option if the event was to be shifted, but later South Africa was decided as the alternative venue for the Champions Trophy.

Shafqat added that the proposed four-nation Twenty20 Cup is likely to be held in Canada in August. He further informed that New Zealand had confirmed their tour to Pakistan in August ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.



UNI