Australia were unable to defend the Champions Trophy last year

The International Cricket Council has confirmed this year's Champions Trophy will not take place in Pakistan.

The tournament had been due to be take place in September 2008 but was postponed because of security concerns.

And a decision was made to find an alternative venue following an ICC Board meeting in Perth on Sunday.

"The board has accepted the need for certainty in planning and delivering a world-class event," said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

Pakistan is currently fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in the northwestern tribal regions bordering Afghanistan and has suffered a string of deadly suicide bomb attacks in the last year, which have killed more than 1,000 people.

South Africa had pulled out of the 2008 Champions Trophy, while England, New Zealand and Australia expressed doubts about playing in the troubled country.

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But the future of the tournament was thrown into doubt when India withdrew from a three-Test, five one-day tour of Pakistan in December on government advice following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

"It is unfortunate the ICC Champions Trophy will not take place in Pakistan due to circumstances completely beyond the control of the PCB," added Lorgat.

The withdrawals have had a crippling effect on the finances of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who have not hosted a home Test match since South Africa's visit in October 2007.

But the ICC has reassured worried Pakistan officials by confirming they will receive revenue from the event regardless of where the tournament is held.

"In view of the challenges facing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which are out of its control, the board agreed that, irrespective of the location of the event, Pakistan would retain the revenue due for hosting the tournament," read an ICC statement.

A new venue will be sought when in April at the next board meeting.

The ICC also said it will send a task team to Pakistan to ensure the country can host international matches in the future.

Elsewhere, the board approved the West Indies Cricket Board's proposal to stage the World Twenty20 2010 matches in Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia.

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