LONDON, Aug 22: Pakistan’s hopes of hosting next month’s ICC Champions Trophy were plunged further into doubt on Friday when South Africa withdrew, citing security concerns.

The Proteas pre-empted Sunday’s emergency talks by the cricket’s governing body with the announcement that the ICC task force had failed to offer sufficient assurances about their players’ safety in Pakistan. Australia, England and New Zealand could follow South Africa’s lead.

Friday’s meeting in Johannesburg was the last stop on International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat’s global mission to allay fears of violence in Pakistan. The ICC met the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday after facing resistance in Melbourne last week from players and Cricket Australia (CA) representatives.

Pakistan’s case has been hindered this week with a renewed spate of suicide attacks. On Thursday, twin blasts in Wah killed at least 67 people.

“After extensive discussions and frank exchange of views, the board resolved not to send our team at this time to Pakistan to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) President Norman Arendse said on Friday.

“We respect the right of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to stage the tournament and we would urge the ICC to reschedule the tournament as soon as possible.”

The ICC board will hold a teleconference on Sunday to decide whether to postpone or relocate the event, or to invite replacement countries. Sri Lanka remains the standby venue.

But evidence had been mounting that leading teams were unwilling to risk travelling to Pakistan for the Sept 12-28 tournament.

The union representing Australia’s cricketers said the holder would not participate. Players from England and New Zealand have also expressed reservations about visiting Pakistan, although South Africa is the first of the eight participating nations to officially withdraw.

“This was a difficult decision but it was the right one. There is nothing more important than the safety of our national team,” said Tony Irish, chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA).

“We appreciate all the efforts of the ICC task team, the PCB, the Pakistan authorities and the security consultants. The players are naturally disappointed for their fans and the people of Pakistan that they will not have a chance to see them in action in that country in September,” he added.

The other nations contesting the trophy are India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.—AP