ICC members show faith in Champions Trophy

The ICC have made light of India's recent threats to withdraw from the ICC Champions Trophy after 2007, by swiftly turning their attention to the other member countries that have submitted formal interest in hosting the tournament in 2008.

Five Full Members - Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies - and one Associate Member - United Arab Emirates - have put themselves forward to host the event. This follows Michael Atherton's scathing comments in his column for the Sunday Telegraph, slamming India's carefree attitude towards the ICC and calling for other nations to support Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive.

Speed himself said that it was very pleasing to see a high level of interest in hosting the 2008 event from ICC members. "The level of interest in the ICC Champions Trophy 2008 has exceeded our expectations and demonstrates the potential of this event," he said. "It means that, as with future ICC Cricket World Cup events, there will be a competitive process to determine the host of this event. The range of locations of these countries also provides the ICC with the ability to schedule the event at a time of year that will optimise its potential."

After sending the ICC "letters of intent", the members now have until the end of February to produce full hosting submissions. These submissions will be considered at the next ICC Board meeting in Dubai on March 20 and 21 where a decision is expected to be made on the host of this event.