LAHORE, July 24: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf expressed his delight over International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to back Pakistan as the Champions Trophy host but said that the world governing body would appoint a commission to ensure security for the mega event.

Announcing ICC’s decision after attending the 150-minute long teleconference among member boards from the Gaddafi Stadium, Dr Ashraf said: “After the very lengthy discussion in which all the security and other measurers regarding the Champions Trophy were thoroughly discussed, the ICC decided to reiterate its 2006 decision of awarding the mega event to us.

“During the teleconference, which was held in a very good friendly atmosphere, all the member boards showed great spirit in the larger interest of the game,” added the PCB chairman.

He said the ICC has formed an eight-member task force to monitor the security arrangements suggested by the neutral security agencies. The task force comprises ICC President David Morgan, Sharad Pawar, the ICC president-elect, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, the ICC principal advisor Inderjit Singh Bindra, the PCB chairman and representatives of broadcasters, the ICC’s independent security advisors and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FIQA).

“The mandate of the task force is to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the ICC’s independent security advisors and to liaise with various stakeholders,” said Dr Ashraf.

Asked if this was a final decision from the ICC, the chairman said the ICC had reiterated its decision of 2006 and that meant that Pakistan was still the host country for the extravaganza. “During the teleconference members of a few countries conveyed concerns of stakeholders like broadcasters, players’ association and others over the security aspect in Pakistan, citing security agencies’ reports. So in order to remove their concerns their representatives have also been included in the task force,” he said.

Pakistan will be holding Trophy matches in three cities — namely Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

“The PCB would like to thank all members of the ICC, especially India, for the kind of support extended to our cause,” Dr Ashraf said.

“Obviously it is a great decision and highlights the unity among the members countries and shows that there is no division of the cricket world,” he added. “The PCB is committed to provide security and we will prove it. We have also proved it by holding the Asia Cup recently and the task force will soon tour Pakistan to ensure everything is in place.”

The chairman, however, admitted that the independent security teams had pointed out some flaws in the security arrangements during the Asia Cup.

“We received the ICC security plan just 10 days before the Asia Cup and there might have been some flaws. But now we have enough time and the task force can assure all safety arrangements,” he said.

He said the task force members would meet the high officials of the government during their visit to get all kind of surety.

There are reports that the security agencies had produced some photographs to the international cricket body which showed lapses in security arrangements on the rear gates of the National Stadium, Karachi during the Asia Cup. The report highlighted the fact that all the security focus was on the main gates while the back gates were somewhat neglected.

Furthermore, the ICC official broadcasters had also conveyed the concern that its crew members were also reluctant to visit Pakistan. There was fear that the ICC could split in two sections over this crucial decision since England, Australia, New Zealand and South African players had shown their concern to their respective boards on the security issues in Pakistan.

However, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the West Indies have supported Pakistan’s case by saying that the country should be given every chance to prove its abilities.

Agencies add: The PCB chief further said: “We are going to separate perception from reality and, while those concerns exist in terms of players, we will do our utmost to assure them that we would not go into an event where safety and security is going to be compromised.’’

“We know of no credible threat against the event or against any team. For that matter, any player or individual. So, we are quite confident that the conflict currently ongoing in Pakistan is pretty much government and militants related.”