STAGING a half-baked Champion's Trophy next month seems the only option left for the ICC, with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe possibly making up the numbers vacated by Australia and other teams unwilling to play in Pakistan.

The ICC has little room to move as Australia, England and New Zealand will boycott the tournament if it remains in Pakistan. South Africa are also unwilling to go.

The ICC had ample opportunity to shift the trophy to Sri Lanka after it was made clear by the four nations that Pakistan posed significant security concerns. Instead of investigating the possibility of moving the eight-team competition, ICC officials tried to convince the boards of Australia, England and New Zealand that Pakistan was safe.

An Australian team source said the players had "an absolute lack of faith in their ability to implement the security measures they have proposed".

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat virtually ruled out a late switch to Sri Lanka after meeting England board members on Tuesday, and will not want to make a U-turn. Sri Lankan officials have not been asked which venues they could offer.

ICC officials were in meetings in Dubai yesterday, attempting to salvage the game's second-biggest one-day tournament behind the World Cup.

A crowded schedule, and broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports, will make it tough for the ICC to scrap the trophy or postpone it.

The Australian coach of Bangladesh, Jamie Siddons, said his side was prepared to make up the numbers.

"I'm not too sure whether they will keep replacing sides, but nothing has come through to us," Siddons said from Darwin, where Bangladesh will play three one-day internationals against Australia from next week.

"I think we're free to play if it happens but, personally, I can't see it happening. We've been called to Pakistan recently to fill in for the Aussies and we'll do it again if we get invited."

Bangladesh toured Pakistan after Australia pulled out of their series for security reasons earlier this year, and also contested the Asia Cup there.

Lorgat and the ICC thought they could persuade the boards by offering "presidential levels of security" - the same given to assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto last year.

As explained by Australian Cricketers' Association chief Paul Marsh, the resignation of Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf on Monday would not end extremist attacks. A bomb attack at a hospital in the north-west claimed 30 lives after the leader announced his departure.

"There are external threats … and there are internal threats … we could point to a Benazir Bhutto situation to see whether the team could be secured," Marsh said.

■ Fast bowler Brett Lee will miss the one-day series against Bangladesh for family reasons. He will be replaced by Brett Geeves.