ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf has rejected the impression that there is any threat to the game of cricket in Pakistan after the country witnessed incidents of bomb blasts in Karachi and Islamabad.

“If terrorists think they can target cricket or stadiums in the country, they are wrong,” Dr Nasim Ashraf said while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.

Rawalpindi, which is one of the three venues for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in September, adjoins Islamabad where 19 people, including at least 15 policemen, were killed and more than 40 injured in suicide bombing on Sunday.

Karachi which is another venue was also hit by a series of blasts on Monday, injuring over 50 people including children and policemen.

Dr Ashraf’s latest statement emerged after ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had promised to pull the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan if there was any threat of violence.

Logart had said the ICC would not compromise on the safety and security of any individual and they would not play in a country which was not appropriate to host the event safely.

Dr Ashraf, who recently assumed the charge of Asian Cricket Council president, said sports especially cricket had always been safe in Pakistan and nobody liked to hamper the game.

He showed high hopes that the upcoming event would be staged in Pakistan.

“I am confident ICC will maintain its current position and let Pakistan hold the Champions Trophy,” he said.

Pakistan had recently staged the ninth Asia Cup in peaceful atmosphere in which six nations including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and UAE participated.

About the Asia Cup, the PCB chief asserted: “The successfully staging of the Asia Cup proved that we can hold any international event.”

Some players of Australia, New Zealand and England have shown reluctance to play in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka is the designated alternative venue while South Africa is a strong contender for the event if Pakistan faces an axe from the ICC.

Reuters adds: Australian cricket officials said on Tuesday they could decide within a fortnight whether or not to pull out of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan because of security concerns.

Australia, whose players have long held concerns about touring Pakistan, could withdraw from the tournament which starts on Sept 11.

Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said the organisation was awaiting reports from a security expert and the Federation of International Cricket Associations (FICA).

“They’re compiling reports which we should have within the next two weeks,” Marsh said.

“Until you have all the information you can’t make a final decision but the concern levels certainly rise whenever there are bombings.”

Cricket Australia was also expected to make a decision within the next two weeks, spokesman Peter Young said.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 due to concerns about security.