 We didn't want Champions Trophy which is not world class: Lorgat
8th Sep 2008 22:00 IST
Agencies
Hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan sans four major participating teams would have robbed it of its world class status and it was a unanimous decision to postpone the tournament, the ICC said in New Delhi today.
International Cricket Council CEO Haroon Lorgat, who was in New Delhi to announce the shortlists for the annual ICC Awards, told reporters that there was no point going ahead with the event when some of the teams were reluctant to tour strife-torn Pakistan.
"As many as four teams were apprehensive about the security there. After all, we cannot force players if they don't want to go and play there. Then we had documents from some people who did some research on the issue and finally we had to postpone the event," he said.
"I guess most people respected our decision on Champions Trophy and it was a unanimous decision. Last thing we wanted was a Champions Trophy which was just not world class," Lorgat added.
He also dismissed the notion that the governing body was divided with the Asian bloc on one side and the rest on the other.
"I must say that I'm in a fortunate position to work with the ICC in recent past. Prior to that, even I also read these issues. But now that I work here, I can say that there is nothing even close to what is being claimed," he said.
"I never experienced anything on those lines, even though I hear those on regular basis. I find it strange where these stories surface from," he said.
continued.. |
