The International Cricket Council yesterday dropped Rawalpindi as a venue for the event, to be held from September12-28, leaving just Lahore and Karachi as host cities.

Players from Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand have expressed doubts about playing because of a wave of Islamist militant violence in Pakistan.

Australia will play its first two games against India and Pakistan in the southern city of Karachi, which has been racked by violence for years.

Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson and players association boss Tim May, a former Australian off-spinner, are part of a delegation visiting New Zealand today and Australia tomorrow to try to convince those countries to participate.

Early next week, another delegation led by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat will fly to London to speak to England and South Africa representatives.

The Champions Trophy was to start on September 11 but was put back a day to avoid the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. AAP