Aussies to boycott Champions Trophy

Despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) giving Champions Trophy security the all clear on Tuesday, players from the defending champions, Australia, are set to boycott the upcoming one-day tournament, Australian newspapers were reporting early Wednesday.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled for September 12-28 in troubled Pakistan and ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat claimed on Tuesday in London that safety and security was “satisfactory” after a meeting with officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board. However, attempts by an ICC delegation attempted to address Cricket Australia’s (CA) concerns over player safety here on Friday appear to have failed.

According to The Australian newspaper, Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marsh, who was at Friday’s meeting, said the powerful player union could not support Australia’s participation in the event.

MELBOURNE, AFP