Karachi/New Delhi, July 23: Once again, it’s the Asian bloc versus the Rest on the decision to stage Champions Trophy in Pakistan. In simultaneous developments on Sunday, while the BCCI came out openly in support of holding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) again voiced its concerns regarding the security threat.

As things stand ahead of Thursday’s crucial ICC board meeting, hosts Pakistan have the support of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while Australia, England and New Zealand are strongly in favour of shifting the tournament out of the strife-torn country.

“Our team played in the recently concluded Asia Cup and everything was alright. Besides, the report of the ICC’s security consultants was also positive. So the BCCI sees no harm in Pakistan hosting the tournament,” Niranjan Shah said on Wednesday.

The other side

However, ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said the security consultant hired by them had hinted at a number of external threats in Pakistan.

“There is a credible threat in all the major cities in Pakistan, including those which are hosting the event and they expect bombing in the coming week. That’s what we are concerned about,” Marsh said.

Marsh also claimed that the security reports given to the ICC and member countries had highlighted the fact that the security arrangements during the Asia Cup tournament in Lahore and Karachi were not entirely up to the mark. Marsh also said all reports have said that tension has increased in Pakistan at the moment.

South Africa, which earlier also staked a claim to hold the event in case it shifted out and raised apprehensions to tour Pakistan, interestingly did a volte-face. “We must give Pakistan every opportunity to host the tournament to the best of their ability,” Norman Arendse, the president of Cricket South Africa (CSA) told Independent Online. “I’m inclined to support Pakistan’s hosting of the tournament.”

If the issue over the venue isn’t resolved through consensus, it goes for voting.