Aussie players to boycott Champions Trophy in Pakistan

[Rajiv]

its TOI, so not confirmed yet http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ponting__co_to_boycott_Champions_Trophy_Report/articleshow/3144737.cms

[flamy]

:hysterical::hysterical:

[Feed]

Ponting admits Pakistan apprehension RICKY Ponting admits Australia's cricketers remain apprehensive about touring Pakistan as fears of a player boycott for September's Champions Trophy continue to grow. More... Ponting admits Pakistan apprehension June 19, 2008 RICKY Ponting admits Australia's cricketers remain apprehensive about touring Pakistan as fears of a player boycott for September's Champions Trophy continue to grow. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) tried its best to downplay security concerns at the event's official launch in Lahore, the governing body is facing mounting pressure to shift the eight-team tournament from the strife-torn nation with the real possibility that some of the world's best cricketers may refuse to play in Pakistan. Cricket Australia, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has already postponed its Test and one-day tour of Pakistan this year because of security fears. While admitting there had not yet been discussions about the issue during the team's current tour of the West Indies, Ponting believed there was still some trepidation among his players - several of whom publicly voiced their reluctance to tour Pakistan earlier this year, most notably Andrew Symonds. "We don't know if we're going, and if we do go, we don't know if individuals are going to pull out. But what we know right now is, yes, there is some apprehension amongst some of the players and that was stated last summer," Ponting said. "I don't think that would have changed until now. It might change in the coming weeks, if we get some good news from the security reports over there, then the individual's mindset might change a little bit. "What happened last summer was probably something that made us all sit back and think about it a little more. "If Cricket Australia and the players' association decide that we go, then it will be an individual's decision, as every tour is. But there will be some apprehension for sure." Ponting said it was not just the Australian team feeling uneasy about the situation. Along with Australia, New Zealand's player union and the international cricketers' association have all raised serious reservations this week about Pakistan's ability to host the tournament, with English and South African players also believed to be concerned. The New Zealand Cricket Players' Association, in particular, was concerned about the event's scheduling, with the Champions Trophy to start on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York and be played entirely during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In 2003, the Black Caps were forced to postpone a one-day tour of Pakistan for three weeks after receiving death threats because the original schedule had them playing during Ramadan. "I'm sure some of the England players will have some concerns, as well as a lot of the New Zealand players who have been confronted with this stuff before, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan," Ponting said. "It just won't be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead there." Acting chief executive Dave Richardson claimed the ICC remained "comfortable" with Pakistan hosting the event, but added: "We will be monitoring the (security) situation on a daily basis from now on until the conclusion of the event." ICC assurances alone, however, are not expected to placate all players, with many likely to want their own national associations and player bodies to conduct extensive security evaluations before agreeing to tour. Sri Lanka had been listed as the back-up country for the tournament, but South Africa has now also been mentioned as a possible destination given there are similar security fears in Sri Lanka, which currently carries the same level of DFAT travel warning as Pakistan.

[Guest dada_rocks]

Irfan Pathan sledges Yusuf Pathan!! "Daddy loves my Mommy more than yours!"

:haha::haha:

[nospam]

the real reason: india, pakistan and west indies in the same group

[DomainK]

the real reason: india' date= pakistan and west indies in the same group

:giggle::giggle:

[SachDan]

its TOI, so not confirmed yet http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ponting__co_to_boycott_Champions_Trophy_Report/articleshow/3144737.cms

Now its a confirmed news...all the news channels are carrying out that story.