Rawalpindi is in line to be scrapped as a venue for the ICC Champions Trophy next month as part of an attempt to ease fears over safety and security in Pakistan. Reducing the tournament to a two-venue event - Lahore and Karachi - is seen as a way to remove some of the logistical issues.

However, reports in Australia suggest that ESPN-Star Sports, the broadcaster, is struggling to find staff to cover the tournament and is concerned at the impact of a possible boycott by players from England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Sri Lanka is a possible alternative venue.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, will take part in an ICC teleconference today to decide whether the Champions League, which would include Middlesex, contravenes regulations demanding a gap between international events. It is due to begin on September 29, the day after the Champions Trophy final.

Herschelle Gibbs, the South Africa batsman, has been included in the 15-man squad for the five-match one-day series and Twenty20 international against England. Gibbs, 34, expressed doubts on his international future after being left out of the Test side for the tour.

Essex Eagles beat Surrey Brown Caps by 30 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-affected NatWest Pro40 second division match at Chelmsford last night. Grant Flower's 51 was the highlight of the host team's innings, as Essex struggled to 167 all out in 35.1 overs. But Surrey's hopes of forcing victory were thwarted by the weather and their reply was called off after 15 overs, when they had reached 47 for four.