ENGLAND'S involvement in the ICC Champions Trophy in September has heightened fears that several of Yorkshire's top players could miss the climax of the Championship season.

With the final Test against India at The Oval not finishing until September 9, England are likely to select a second string squad for the ICC tournament which begins three days later.

If this happens, then not only would Yorkshire be missing the likes of Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard, Craig White, Michael Vaughan and Richard Dawson as they try to retain the Championship title, but players of the calibre of Chris Silverwood, Matthew Wood and Steven Kirby could also be called away.

"It is a worrying prospect and things are getting out of hand," said cricket chairman Bob Platt.

Sri Lanka is expected be named as the country hosting the biennial tournament, previously known as the ICC Knockout Trophy, when an announcement is made next week.

With Australia also competing, their scheduled tour of Pakistan in September is likely to be called off, but one way or another Yorkshire seem certain to be without skipper Darren Lehmann for the closing weeks of the summer.

Yorkshire have not yet named anyone to replace Lehmann during the first three weeks of the season when Australia are due to visit Zimbabwe, but there is a growing feeling that the tour may not take place because of the unstable political situation surrounding Zimbabwe's presidential elections.

"We are monitoring the situation very closely but nothing seems clear cut yet," said Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell.

Updated: 09:18 Wednesday, February 27, 2002