ICC agrees on security process

The International Cricket Council has revealed it has agreed to a security process for this year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

On the day the country was hit by its latest suicide bombing, which killed eight policemen and injured more than 20 people according to officials, cricket's world governing body reiterated that it would move September's one-day showpiece if it could not guarantee player safety.

The ICC is still working towards the tournament being staged in Pakistan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat has confirmed that, during the course of its annual conference week, a security process had been agreed ahead of the tournament.

Lorgat said: "The chief executives' committee and the ICC board came together to receive a presentation by the security consultants hired to oversee that matter both before and during the ICC Champions Trophy."

"During the course of that presentation, a process was agreed upon to deal with any incidents which may occur between now and the end of the tournament."

"The process involved an exchange of information between the competing teams, the ICC and the security consultants."

"The ICC will not compromise the safety and security of any individual at one of its tournaments and if it is not appropriate to play in any country then we will not do so."

England is one of eight top nations scheduled to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, which takes place between September 11 and 28.

Another of them, Australia, postponed its tour to the country in March after a series of suicide bomb blasts.

In the last few days, its captain Ricky Ponting revealed he did not yet know if his side will travel for the Champions Trophy and that, even if it did, individual players may refuse to go.

Pakistan had been hosting the Asia Cup, which featured India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and was completed on Sunday.

Lorgat added: "Our security consultants have been working with the Pakistan authorities during the Asia Cup, assessing security, and will report back as soon as possible with their views."

"At this stage, we are working towards the ICC Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan in September."

Cricket Sri Lanka chief Arjuna Ranatunga gave his backing to Pakistan, insisting the Pakistan Cricket Board would be able to handle security issues.

"I don't think there is any issue with Champions Trophy being held here," Ranatunga told the Deccan Herald on Sunday.

"Pakistan have showed that they can handle the security issues of teams during the Asia Cup. I can't see why they can't do it again during the Champions Trophy."