The ICC today announced the postponement of upcoming Women�s World Cup Qualifier event, scheduled to be staged in Lahore , Pakistan from 19 � 25 November 2007.

The decision was arrived at following independent security reports and extensive discussions by ICC management and the ICC Women�s Committee.

A decision on where and when the tournament will be played will be taken in due course.

The event involves eight teams � Bermuda , Ireland , the Netherlands , Pakistan , Papua New Guinea , Scotland , South Africa , and Zimbabwe � with the top two sides going forward to the ICC Women�s World Cup in Australia in 2009.

Commenting on the postponement, PCB Chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf said: �We have advised the ICC we feel the event could have been staged as scheduled in two weeks� time in a safe and secure environment.

�We remain more than capable of � and committed to � hosting international cricket and we look forward to welcoming teams to Pakistan in the future.�

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: �It is extremely regrettable this decision has had to be taken.

�We remain committed to international cricket being played in Pakistan but, sadly, events beyond the control of the ICC and the PCB have conspired against us on this occasion.

�As recently as 25 October, the ICC Women�s Committee reaffirmed its commitment to staging the event, as scheduled, in Lahore .

�However the heightened state of tension within the country over the past few days represents a change in circumstances that we have a duty to consider.

�Safety and security of all participants is a priority and on the basis of the independent advice we have received � as well as the material concerns expressed by many of the participating countries � we concluded it is not appropriate to stage the tournament at this time.�

The ICC Women�s Committee is made up of Betty Timmer (Chair), Catherine Campbell (EAP), Belinda Clark (co-opted), Shubhangi Kulkarni (Asia), Kerri Laing (Africa), Siobhan McBennett (Europe) and Carol Whilby-Maxwell ( Americas ).