The PCB claim the ICC's decision to postpone the Champions Trophy rather than move it out of the nation is a victory for them.

The ICC board on Sunday unanimously agreed to postpone the tournament - scheduled to take place in Lahore and Karachi from September 12-28 - until October 2009.

Pakistan remain the host nation, but the ICC maintain the right to review the situation "if other members continued to express reservations over issues of safety and security".

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi admitted his disappointment at the postponement, but would rather have it that way than lose it altogether.

"We are disappointed with this decision, but in a way its a victory for us," he said.

"There were only two possible solutions. The tournament could either have been moved to Sri Lanka or postponed with Pakistan keeping hosting rights."

Sri Lanka was named as back-up venue last winter but India and Pakistan maintained their stance it should remain in its original location despite recent suicide bombings in the country.

Naghmi had earlier said Pakistan would boycott the tournament if it was relocated to Sri Lanka.

"Had it been relocated it would have deprived us of the hosting rights," Naghmi said.

"Now, we are sure that the event will be held in Pakistan next year."

The decision was taken after a teleconference between ICC board members, who will meet again in September to discuss details of the postponement.

South Africa had already pulled out of the eight-team tournament because of security concerns, while players' associations from England, Australia and New Zealand had expressed reservations about playing in Pakistan at the present time.

Current holders Australia and number three ranked New Zealand were advised by their players' associations not to travel to Pakistan in the current political climate.

The world governing body, therefore, deemed it "prudent" to delay the event.

ICC president David Morgan said after the teleconference: "There was complete support and sympathy for the Pakistan Cricket Board and the situation it finds itself in, which is not of its making.

"However, there was also a realisation that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy had reservations about touring there which could not be removed.

"In those circumstances it was considered prudent to postpone the event to October 2009, a time when we all hope conditions may be more acceptable for all the competing teams.

"It was agreed Pakistan would retain the right to host the event next year but that if, at a certain time, any members still had reservations then the ICC's board would have the right to relocate the event."

Morgan acknowledged little could be done to make sure the competition could take place next month.

He told Sky Sports News: "Had we decided a month ago I'm sure the tournament would be taking place in Sri Lanka.

"But the amount of time it's taken for the participating nations to come to their decision not to attend has reduced the time between today and start of tournament.

"It was just impossible to relocate and stage a world-class tournament.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat agreed that rescheduling the competition this year would have proved almost impossible given commitments already in place.

He said: "Every one of our members wishes to ensure the ICC Champions Trophy is a world-class event and the prospect of relocating it at short notice in order to make sure it was played this year would not allow that criterion to be fulfilled.

"Today's agreement provides clarity for our members and in September we will look to put in place a timeframe for arrangements ahead of the event taking place in 2009."

The tournament's scheduling was altered earlier this month with Rawalpindi removed as a venue, leaving Lahore and Karachi as the two bases for the eight teams.

But the South African board announced they would not be sending a team on Friday after advice from security experts and their own government.

England captain Kevin Pietersen recently demanded the England and Wales Cricket Board hierarchy took any decision on whether to participate out of the players' hands.

The ECB have now welcomed Sunday's decision to postpone the competition, with chairman Giles Clarke saying: "The ECB board support the decision of the ICC to postpone the Champions Trophy until October 2009.

"The ECB board made it clear to ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat at a meeting at Lord's last week that ECB had a duty of care for England players and officials as well as a desire to ensure the interests of the media and spectators were not compromised.

"The ECB explained their reservations and security concerns about staging the tournament in the aftermath of the resignation of the Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf last Monday. These concerns were shared by four other competing countries at yesterday's teleconference.

"The ECB board recognise the outstanding efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board in attempting to mitigate the risks surrounding the Champions Trophy tournament and I will be meeting with the incoming chairman of the PCB, once an appointment is made, to discuss ways that our two boards can work together in the future."