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 Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced it won't be sending a team for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and has requested the ICC to reschedule the tournament. The decision to withdraw from the tournament, the first-such official statement from a participating nation, comes two days before the ICC board's teleconference on Sunday.
CSA made its decision following the board's meeting with the ICC task force in Johannesburg on Friday. In a statement, CSA said they assessed the presentation made by the team, led by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, as well as the information available from a number of other security reports, including one from the South African government, before arriving at a conclusion.
"After extensive discussions and frank exchange of views, the board resolved not to send our team at this time to Pakistan to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy," Norman Arendse, the CSA president, said. "We respect the right of the Pakistan Cricket Board to stage the tournament and we would urge the ICC to reschedule the tournament as soon as possible."
Tony Irish, the South African Cricketers' Association chief executive, said it was a difficult decision, but the right one, keeping in mind the safety of the players. "We appreciate all the efforts of the ICC task team, the PCB, the Pakistan authorities and the security consultants," he said. "The players are naturally disappointed for their fans and the people of Pakistan that they will not have a chance to see them in action in that country in September."
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