Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is counting on support from India to prevent the ICC from shifting the Champions Trophy to some other venue in view of growing security concerns. The ICC Board will decide this week whether to allow the event go ahead as per schedule in Pakistan in September or shift it to some other venue. Sources said PCB was confident of hosting the mega event because India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are supporting the Board with the West Indies also willing to play in Pakistan. "Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa are the four countries which have taken a strong stand on having the tournament in Pakistan in September due to the security situation here," a source said. He said the Indian representative at Sunday's meeting had made it clear that if the PCB and the government promise foolproof security for the teams and officials then the ICC should not move the event out of Pakistan. The reservations of the four countries had come even after the security consultants of the ICC have given a satisfactory report about the security arrangements during the Asia Cup held recently in Lahore and Karachi. "India is the strongest and most influential cricket body right now and if they keep on supporting Pakistan then there is every chance of other ICC members agreeing to play in the tournament," the source said. "The main issue also facing the ICC is that even if all countries agree to play in Pakistan they can't force their players to travel to Pakistan and might have to send under strength sides for the event," the source said. He said if the matter went down to the wire at the ICC Board meeting, then Pakistan would want a vote of hands for the final decision. "Pakistan would prefer a vote because it has the assured support of four countries and is also counting on the West Indies. It just has to convince either Australia, England, New Zealand or South Africa to back the tournament in Pakistan," he added. PCB chief Nasim Ashraf will attend the ICC Board meeting while Shafqat Naghmi, the chief operating officer who attended Sunday's meeting, will return home.
