PCB confident of successfully hosting Champions Trophy

Lahore, Jul 25 (UNI) Despite the opposition from the players' associations of non-Asian countries to keeping the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the PCB is unperturbed and confident of successfully hosting the bienial event.

''We are relieved, and are now more focused to hold a safe and peaceful tournament,'' Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told a private website.

Yesterday, the ICC decided to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan after holding a teleconference meeting of the executive board.

The apex body has also endorsed the fact that the strife-torn South Asian nation has recently hosted the Asia Cup successfully.

However, ICC is still waiting for the report of the task force on security, which is due to visit Pakistan to examine the prospects of hosting the Trophy.

''The task force would allay the individual fears, we hope.

The satisfaction is that at least the concerns were addressed and now there is the need to address the perceptions which are different from reality,'' Naghmi said.

''May be there are some players who won't come but once the task force complete their work and ensure all the security plans are in place,it will keep us on the toes. There is a likelihood that only very few players pull out and most of them may change their minds.

I am convinced that will happen,'' he added.

UNI XC RKM AB AS1731