International Cricket Council Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed on Wednesday said a security assessment of Pakistan will be undertaken before taking a call on the 2008 Champions Trophy, which is to be held there.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the multi-nation tournament in September, but a series of bomb blasts, which forced Australia postpone their tour of the country last month, have cast a cloud on the event.
"At this stage it is full steam ahead for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Later this year, in May or June, the ICC will send an independent security assessment team to Pakistan," Speed told rediff.com in Mumbai.
He said the security team's report will help the ICC make a decision on whether the tournament will be held in Pakistan or not.
"They will report back to ICC after their assessment. If it is unsafe to hold the tournament there, it will not be held in Pakistan. But, at this stage, I am very hopeful that it will be held in Pakistan this year," Speed added.
The schedule and groupings for the 2008 Champions Trophy, from September 11 to 28, was announced by the ICC last month.
India, Pakistan and Australia have been drawn in Group A along with the West Indies. The other pool features South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England.
