Wary of terror attacks, CT not in favour of 9/11 start

The Champions Trophy in strife-torn Pakistan is likely to be pushed back by a day to September 12 as the organisers...

The Champions Trophy in strife-torn Pakistan is likely to be pushed back by a day to September 12 as the organisers are wary of starting the eight-nation tournament on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack on the United States.

Sources suggest that due to the fact that the dates of the tournament happened to coincide with the September 11 attack, the start of the mega-event would be delayed by a day and the secretariat of the tournament in Lahore has also been informed about this.

“Some of the members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) believe that September 11 would not be an auspicious date for launching the event and it might well be delayed by a day,” a top PCB source said.

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The secretariat, however, is continuing to move ahead with its preparations. They had already prepared the official brochure for the tournament and were finalising the media handbooks.

Lawson urges all teams to play

Meanwhile, playing down security concerns in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy in September, coach Geoff Lawson (picture right) has urged all the international teams to tour the country and make the biennial event a resounding success.

“I have been in Pakistan since last year and I know the ground realities of how safe it is in this country. Anybody can make statements sitting outside no matter if it’s Australia, England or New Zealand,” he said referring to the three teams, who have been vociferously opposing to having the tournament in Pakistan. “They should come to Pakistan and experience for themselves what this country is exactly like. The ICC took the right decision to have the tournament in Pakistan,” Lawson said.

Lawson was also critical of the Australian board and its players when they pulled out of their Test tour to Pakistan early this year and insisted it was as safe in Pakistan as in anywhere in the world.