PCB likely to change date of Champions Trophy opener

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to be forced to change the date of the opening match of the Champions Trophy from a date strikingly remembered for terrorists' attack: 9/11.

West Indies are scheduled to meet Pakistan on that day in Lahore to kick off the tournament to be held from September 11-28.
It is reliably learnt that considering the significance of the date -- when alleged Al-Qaeda hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the World Trade Centre in New York City -- it was dangerous to start to the eight-nation high-profile tournament on the seventh anniversary of a sad event.

Although there were no known threats from any quarters, the PCB has made up its mind to delay the event by one day and the request for this delay will be put before the ICC board which meets in Dubai later this month.

"The PCB was advised not to start the event on 9/11 and they have realised the seriousness of the matter," said a source. When asked about the imminent one day delay, the PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi played down the matter. "I have no idea about this. I don't know from where such things come. We have not made any request to the ICC on that matter," denied Naghmi.

The inaugural Twenty20 also started on 9/11 but for a country like South Africa, which has no part to play in the war against terror, it wasn't a problem. But Pakistan, itself embroiled by fundamentalists and revival of Taliban across the border in Afghanistan, the matter is of a concern.

Foreign teams have shown reluctance over touring Pakistan since the 9/11 attacks and the ensuing war in Afghanistan. New Zealand are due to tour Pakistan in August for a pre-CT one-day series but some of their senior players have already shown reluctance over touring. Australia postponed their March-April tour of Pakistan over security fears and it is yet to be seen how they respond to security arrangements for the Champions Trophy.

The ICC have named Sri Lanka as possible replacement in case Pakistan fails to host the biennial event.