Australian captain Ricky Pointing said the deadly suicide attack in Islamabad justified their decision not to visit Pakistan for the bilateral series and the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan Cricket Board perceives Cricket Australia's willingness to go ahead with the India tour as nothing but double standard but the PCB on Tuesday ruled out seeking a legal action against its Australian counterpart.

Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday said BCCI's objection to the October 2009 date of Champions Trophy was understandable as India will have to honour international commitments.

Not only India but some other countries also have issues with the scheduling of Champions Trophy in September or October 2009 making it difficult for the ICC to take a decision, says a PCB official at the two-day meeting in Dubai.

The fate of the Champions Trophy, the Future Tours Programme post-2012 as well as the umpires referral system would top the agenda at a two-day meeting of ICC Chief Executives' Committee and Board members starting in Dubai from Wednesday.

Pakistan Cricket Board's efforts to compensate the postponement of Champions Trophy bore fruit as it has managed to rope in Sri Lanka for a triangular one-day series in South Africa.

There will be no souring of relations between Cricket South Africa and the Pakistan Cricket Board over the former's decision not to play in the Champions Trophy. The tournament was finally postponed by the International Cricket Council.

With the ICC postponing the Champions Trophy until next year, the cricket Board in Pakistan is now hoping that India will support Pakistan in having a triangular one-day series either in South Africa or Australia next month.

The BCCI on Sunday welcomed the ICC's decision to postpone the Champions Trophy in Pakistan until October next year, saying it agreed with the security concerns raised by other boards.

Giving in to the pressure mounted by top countries like South Africa and Australia, the International Cricket Council on Sunday postponed the next month's Champions Trophy in strife-torn Pakistan until October 2009.

PCB admitted that after South Africa withdrew from the Champions Trophy, there lies a strong possibility of Australia, England and New Zealand doing the same and issued a warning to ICC that it will boycott the tournament if relocated to another country.

The ICC will discuss Cricket South Africa's pull-out from September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan owing to security concerns in Sunday's Board meeting.

The Champions Trophy ran into more trouble on Friday, with South Africa becoming the first top team to pull out of the tournament scheduled in Pakistan next month, citing fluid security situation in the strife-torn country.

BCCI on Friday threw its weight behind Pakistan and backed the traditional rivals to host the Champions Trophy next month, even as many cricket boards are apprehensive of sending their players to the violence-hit country.

With the ICC finding it tough to convince apprehensive cricketers on touring Pakistan for next month's Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka on Friday said it was ready to hold the tournament even at a short notice.

A final decision on the fate of next month's Champions Trophy is expected on Sunday when the ICC Board holds a teleconference to discuss the possibility of holding the tournament in Pakistan.

Mohammad Asif found himself in deep trouble on Tuesday, as the dope test of his 'B' sample has also tested positive for a contraband substance, leaving the Pakistan pacer facing the possibility of being banned for two years.

Pakistan will know on Tuesday whether they will be hosting the Champions Trophy next month, as International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat began his task to convince England and South African teams that it is safe to play in Pakistan.

Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Saturday asked by Pakistan Cricket Board to pay the fine of seven million rupees, imposed on him or forget playing in next month's Champions Trophy.

Desperate to probe his innocence in the Indian Premier League doping scam, embattled Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif and his lawyer have left for Geneva on Friday night, where his "B" sample test would be conducted on Monday.

Raising fresh uncertainty on September’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, International Cricket Council on Friday said that it was running out time to take a final decision.

Two groups of the ICC Champions Trophy task team, which recently visited Pakistan, will meet officials and players from New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa to convince them about safety and security measures of next month's mega tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has shown reluctance to host New Zealand for a three-match one-day series before the Champions Trophy, as the Kiwis took too much time to confirm or call off the series.

Strengthening their pace attack, the Pakistani selectors on Tuesday included controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and his fellow paceman Umar Gul in the final 15-man squad for next month's Champions Trophy.