The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday said it can only ensure players about the security measures put in place in Pakistan but cannot force players to appear in the Champions Trophy.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive said, the world governing body of the game would do everything to make players confident about their safety and hope no player would pull out of the eight nation elite tournament.

The ICC board's decision to keep the tournament in Pakistan has triggered off a wave of protests from leading players and players associations with some making veiled threats of not playing in the tournament.

"We cannot force players to attend. All we can do is make them confident about the measures taken in regard to safety and security and on that basis hope they participate," Lorgat said.

"That is the reason we are putting together a task team inviting all the main stakeholders including FICA, so the process is inclusive," Lorgat added.

The ICC Board decision to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan came after security consultants briefed the representative Boards about the security situation in Pakistan even though players from Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa expressed reservations.

Lorgat also said the ICC was not speculating on possible action, which can be taken if teams did not appear in the tournament.

"We won't speculate on teams not taking part or any action if that did occur. There was no indication that would happen during the telephone hook-up of ICC Directors on Thursday," he said.

Meanwhile, Tony Irish, the Chief Executive of the South African Players Association said they remained concerned about the security situation in Pakistan.

"For the South African players point of view, we remain concerned about the security situation in Pakistan. We will work with our board Cricket South Africa to decide whether or not we will send our team," he told Geo News channel.