By IANS
Sydney : The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday confirmed Pakistan would host the Champions Trophy tournament in October. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also suggested November as a possible window for the postponed series against Australia.
The ICC’s president-elect, David Morgan, is adamant the Champions Trophy would be played in Pakistan, as scheduled, a report in Sydney Morning Herald said.
Australia could then play Pakistan in a series in November, according to the PCB’s chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi.
“When they postponed the original tour, they asked us to propose a new date,” Naghmi said. “We have looked at the international schedule and all of the other factors, and we think either November this year or March next year would be a good time for the tour to go ahead.
“If it was to proceed in November, it would most likely be a split tour, with the Australians then coming back in March. But if it were to take place in March, it would be a full tour. From reading James Sutherland’s statements, I think he favours March,” he said.
Though disappointed that Cricket Australia (CA) postponed the initial tour without conducting a safety inspection, Naghmi was hopeful the Australians would consider the proposed new tour dates in good faith.
“CA have told us they looked at the ground reality in making their decision, and by that I assume they mean the security situation,” Naghmi said. “I don’t believe there were other factors like the IPL involved, and I have no reason to doubt them.”