Pietersen welcomes Trophy switch

Kevin Pietersen is glad to be able to concentrate on cricket

England captain Kevin Pietersen has welcomed the International Cricket Council's decision to postpone the Champions Trophy by 13 months.

The eight-team tournament was scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 12 to 28 September, but South Africa had already pulled out because of security worries.

And on Sunday the ICC accepted that other countries shared those concerns.

Pietersen said: "All the players I know personally from other countries have safety and security concerns."

Pietersen, who leads England into Tuesday's day-nighter against South Africa looking for a 2-0 series lead, added: "It was good that this decision was taken out of our players' hands.

"Over the last couple of weeks it has been a huge topic of conversation in the dressing room.

"And last Sunday's briefing was a huge talking point. This whole week there has been ifs and buts and dos and don'ts.

"What I said to the team was to put it to the back of our minds because the most important thing for us is the one-day series with South Africa, and that means standing up to be counted on Tuesday.

It's a great result for all the players to find out... All the guys are happy now Michael Clarke Australia vice-captain

"This is a huge decision and cricket can now take priority again."

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke also said he was relieved with the decision.

"It's a great result for all the players to find out whether we're going or not going," he said. "All the guys are happy now."

Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, said the decision was correct because the "security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated".

He added: "By postponing the tournament until October next year there is time for the security situation in Pakistan to improve or for a suitable alternative venue to be chosen."

However, Australia are already providing an obstacle for the 2009 event.

The ICC says the new tournament will be played in October 2009 - and that means Australia's one-day series in India will need to be altered for the global tournament to occur.

Currently, seven one-day internationals between Australia and India are already scheduled for that month.

606: DEBATE Is postponement the right decision? Should the ICC have cancelled the tournament altogether? Paul Grunill, BBC Sport

Australia would have to squeeze any extra duties in between the end of their four-month Ashes campaign - which ends with a one-dayer on 20 September - and the start of the home season against Pakistan in November.

England's Professional Cricketers' Association chairman Dougie Brown believes it is "highly unlikely" the Champions Trophy will be played next year as planned.

"I don't know how they can possibly reschedule it because you have to have a window of opportunity for all the cricketing nations to be available to play at a given stage next year," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia is "desperately hoping" political turmoil in Pakistan eases in time for their scheduled April 2009 tour of the country.

It would be Australia's first tour to the Islamic republic since 1998.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it now hopes to play a one-day series in either South Africa or Australia in place of the Champions Trophy.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said: "The South Africans have responded well to our proposal because, frankly speaking, I think most of the countries realise that Pakistan cricket has suffered a big setback with the postponement of the Champions Trophy."