ICC says it makes assessments 'on an ongoing basis' for Champions Trophy

A spokesman for the International Cricket Council (ICC) told BBC Sinhala service that the decision on safety and security "remains the responsibility of the touring side".

Sri Lankan government has officially endorsed the tour to Pakistan, which was agreed after India pulled out of the tour on the advice of the Indian government.

The proposed tour was, however, in doubt after the Sri Lanka’s sports minister dissolved Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Council headed by Arjuna Ranatunga who agreed the deal with Pakistan.

Ranatunga sacked

Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge told the BBC that the final decision will be taken by his ministry after considering the “security assessment by the ICC”.

As it is a bilateral series, the ICC has no decision to make on the safety and security which remains the responsibility of the touring side   ICC statement

However, ICC told BBC Sandeshaya that it has no role to play in security assessment paving the way for the tour to go ahead.

Although ICC is not involved in making a decision on bilateral tours, it is the responsibility of the ICC to make sure the safety of the “broadcasters, journalists and match officials too, as well as spectators”.

“From the ICC’s perspective, what would be required is that the match officials are afforded the same level of security as any or everyone else involved in the series and the ICC would expect that to be the case in the forthcoming series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka,” the email statement said.

The ICC, it said, will make security assessment “on an ongoing basis” for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

Sri Lankan media say that Indian cricket officials have expressed displeasure over Sri Lanka agreeing to tour Pakistan when they withdrew over attacks in Mumbai.