Kiwis Breathe A Sigh Of Relief
New Zealand - no need to travel.
The New Zealand Cricket Players' Association expressed their delight after the International Cricket Committee decided to postpone the Champions Trophy following security concerns.
The ICC board on Sunday unanimously agreed to postpone the eight-team tournament, which was scheduled to take place from September 12-28, until October 2009 due to a number of teams expressing fears over the safety of their players.
The NZCPA were among the most vocal opponents, along with South Africa, who had already opted out of participating prior to the ICC's ruling in Dubai.
New Zealand, winners of the Champions Trophy in 2000, cancelled a one-day series in Pakistan which was set to be a warm up to the event, while several team members were involved in previous withdrawals after an explosion close to the team hotel in Karachi in 2001.
NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills was thrilled with the ICC's decision.
"We're pretty delighted with it," he told PA Sport.
"We've had a strong view all along that our players shouldn't be going to Pakistan at this point in time so to get this decision is a good one for us."
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan was sympathetic towards the Pakistan Cricket Board, but said the current instability forced the ICC's hand to cancel the event.
"It was obviously due to a circumstance within that country which was certainly out of the control of the local cricket board and I think the whole of the ICC really feels for Pakistan cricket at the moment," the former NZ and Gloucestershire all-rounder told Radio Sport.
Vaughan backed the postponement and expressed hope that the tournament can be played in Pakistan in a more stable environment in 2009.
"The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated during the year and postponement was the right decision," Vaughan said.
"We were concerned about the situation in Pakistan and felt that if we continued to work through the process put in place by the ICC that the right decision would be reached."
He added: "By postponing the tournament until October next year there is time for the security situation in Pakistan to improve or for a suitable alternative venue to be chosen.
"We appreciate the difficulties that this decision will cause the Pakistan Cricket Board and hope that the Champions Trophy can be held there in 2009."
Several of the Black Caps squad who had been earmarked to go to Pakistan will instead join an A team tour of Australia and India, to be named later this week.