Lanka might just host Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka might just end up hosting next months Champions Trophy tournament, despite the International Cricket Council confirming at a board meeting two weeks ago that the event would remain in Pakistan.

Sydney, Aug.4 : Sri Lanka might just end up hosting next month's Champions Trophy tournament, despite the International Cricket Council confirming at a board meeting two weeks ago that the event would remain in Pakistan.

With the rebel Tamil Tigers ready to maintain a truce during the duration of the tourney, speculation is rife that the event maybe shifted out of Pakistan, and head for Sri Lanka.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the ICC is facing massive pressure to move the competition, with broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports reportedly struggling to find the necessary 300 staff willing to travel to Pakistan.

ESS would also have grounds to sue the ICC if the tournament remains in Pakistan because Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England may pull out, and they'd have rights to a tournament that is vastly inferior to the purchase price when the four teams were used to sell it.

A decision on the venue will be made on August 14, after a security inspection.

Meanwhile, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs issued a new warning on their website at the weekend of "a continuing high threat of kidnapping against Westerners, including Australians ..." and urged locals not to go.

Pakistan great Javed Miandad said: "The way foreign teams are constantly talking about the security, it seems difficult that the tournament would be held in Pakistan."

ANI