Kevin Pietersen has plunged England's participation in the Champions Trophy into further doubt after he claimed he had "reservations" about the International Cricket Council (ICC) decision to keep the event in Pakistan despite security fears.

The England batsmen says he would not be prepared to risk his safety for the tournament and has called for the players to be given the freedom to decide whether they participate. World cricket’s governing body yesterday decided to keep the event in Pakistan, despite fears for the safety of the players in the venue cities of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

"I've definitely got reservations - 100 per cent - about going to Pakistan," Pietersen told the BBC. "I don't think pressure should be put on any individual, especially when you realise your life could be at risk."

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, told a tele-conference of ICC board members yesterday that England would be unlikely to send anything approaching their strongest team and that concerns of stakeholders and security experts over safety demand that the tournament be moved elsewhere.

His argument carried little sway and Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, will talk to David Collier, the ECB chief executive, and leading England players to work out the next step.

Pietersen has already spoken to Collier and says he has received assurances he will not be placed in a difficult situation.

"He's reassured me that the ECB have got an emergency meeting on August 4 and they'll be making a decision there," Pietersen said.

The ECB must decide whether to withdraw the team or allow players to pull out individually.

An ECB spokesman said: “We will hold further extensive and urgent discussions with stakeholders, including the players, to determine our position going forward. We will then make a clear and positive decision.”

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