New Delhi: Pakistan could pull out of the Champions Trophy if the International Cricket Council agrees to stage the tournament in a hybrid model, a report by a Pakistani media outlet has claimed.
The ICC has informed Pakistan of India’s decision not to travel over security concerns arising from persistent geo-political tensions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already conveyed India’s stance to its government and await further instructions on the matter.
As per an ARY News report, Pakistan is considering a two-step response, including dragging India to the Court of Arbitration and also declining to accept a hybrid model to stage the tournament.
The ICC is yet to announce schedule of the tournament that is slated to be held between February 19 and March 9, having forced to cancel its build-up events to mark the 100-day countdown due to this scheduling logjam.
In the wake if India’s unwillingness to play in Pakistan, the idea of hosting their matches in Dubai has been mooted. A similar hybrid model was adopted for the 2023 Asia Cup when India’s matches were shifted away from designated host country Pakistan and held in Sri Lanka.
The PCB has undergone a massive renovation process of venues for the tournament, while keeping all of India’s matches in Lahore for security issues and logistical purposes.
The Pakistan government has also reportedly put in place strict security measures. In such circumstances, the PCB is also mulling refusal to play against India in all tournaments if they fail to tour Pakistan, ARY News reported.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier spoken of unwillingness to accept a hybrid model to host the tournament.
“We maintain that the Champions Trophy will only be hosted in Pakistan, and there’s been no discussion of a hybrid model,” he said on November 8 in Lahore.
“Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past, and we’d like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time (if they refuse to come).
“The government will decide if Pakistan travel for any future event in India if they don’t come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The PCB will not decide that,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Pakistan are considering moving to the Court of Arbitration and also mulling to decline a hybrid model to stage the Champions Trophy after India’s refusal to tour. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
