New Delhi: The International Cricket Council will conduct a virtual meeting on November 29 to finalise schedule and hosting duties of the Champions Trophy.
The tournament is supposed to be held in Pakistan in February-March of next year but uncertainty arose when India refused to tour citing security reasons.
It has led to the possibility of the tournament being hosted in a ‘hybrid model’ with India matches shifted out of Lahore, where they were originally supposed to play all their home games.
But Pakistan has also dug their heels in and has refused to accept a hybrid model, insisting on hosting all matches at home as scheduled.
With BCCI secretary Jay Shah set to begin his stint as chairman on December 1, the ICC wants to resolve the logjam over hosting and scheduling before incumbent Greg Barclay leaves.
The governing body could ask its members to vote on it and a final call could be taken once the ICC Board reaches a consensus, reports ESPNCricinfo.
Delay leading to uncertainty
The eight-team tournament is supposed to begin on February 19 but inability to sort out differences meant the ICC hasn’t been able to announce schedule even as the general 100-day mark for its passed.
India had informed of their unwillingness to travel two weeks ago after which Pakistan wrote to the ICC raising queries about the reasons of refusal.
Pakistan Cricket Board remain adamant to host the tournament, whose hosting rights were awarded to them in 2021, and has undertaken massive refurbishment of three venues of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also spoken of his keenness to start a dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to find a solution.
The BCCI nor the Indian government have spoken about any willingness to speak to the PCB or the Pakistan government on the matter.
The ICC Champions Trophy is supposed to be held in Pakistan in February-March of next year but uncertainty arose when India refused to tour citing security reasons. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
