CA more worried about Pak as host for CT than players refusal

Sydney, Jul 13 (UNI) While most of the players are concerned about their security in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, Cricket Australia (CA) said it was more keen to know whether the strife-torn nation will remain as the host for the bienneal tournament or not.

''We're more interested in understanding the security issues and concerns and about whether the tournament will go ahead. Then we get down to the decision for us as to whether we're comfortable,'' CA chief James Sutherland told 'The Age'.

The CA chief, however, said the board is currently not considering a situation of players pulling out of the tournament.

Star all-rounder Andrew Sumonds has already voiced his reluctance to visit Pakistan under the current state of the country.

Australia have to name their final squad for the Champions Trophy till August 15 and Sutherland expects to have a better picture of the situation by then.

''We have a high level of confidence in the consultants that have been engaged to work with ICC and the authorities in Pakistan.

''Now it is a matter of getting a better understanding in the coming couple of weeks from those consultants of how successful that implementation has been,'' Sutherland added.

In past few months Pakistan has already witnessed a state of emergency, then it suffered the assassination of a former Prime Minister, followed by riots and bomb blasts on two of its cities.

But there are a few other players, including Shane Watson and Nathan Hauritz, who have expressed their willingness to play for the country wherever it may be.

Australia was scheduled to play in Pakistan this year in March but citing security as a major concern in the country decided to postpone it till 2009.

UNI XC RAR KN1414