ICC team's last ditch effort to convince cricketers over safety of playing in Pak

In its last ditch effort to persuade a host of international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand and England who are reluctant to play in Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the ICC's Task Force will hold a meeting with Cricket Australia and the players' union to allay the players' security fears and change their decision.

The ICC delegation, including ICC president Haroon Lorgat and Federation of International Cricketers Association chief executive Tim May, is set to arrive in Melbourne on Friday for talks with CA and the players' union, reported The Telegraph.

Led by outspoken all-rounder Andrew Symonds, several Aussie players had threatened to boycott next month's tournament in strife-torn Pakistan. Players from England, New Zealand and South Africa have also spoken of a boycott even if Pakistan was declared "safe" by the Task Force.

Lorgat conceded he faced a challenge allaying Australia's concerns. "I am quite impressed with the level of security in place. It is another matter to satisfy key players," the English daily quoted Lorgat as saying.

CA spokesman Peter Young and the Australian Cricketers Association said that they awaited Friday's talks with interest.

The special taskforce last night continued to inspect facilities in the host cities of Lahore and Karachi. Rawalpindi has now been ruled out as a host, and the tournament's starting date has been put back a day to September 12. (ANI)

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