New Delhi: After India’s refusal to play their Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the tournament’s host country is considering approaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport, multiple news reports have suggested.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has communicated to the International Cricket Council of inability to send its team to Pakistan as it hasn’t received clearance from the government.
India haven’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008 citing security issues in the midst of prevailing geo-political tension between the neighbouring countries.
The ICC has also tournament hosts Pakistan of India’s decision, raising the prospect of holding the event in a ‘hybrid model’, as it had done for the Asia Cup last year.
Though the ICC is yet to announce schedule for the tournament that is slated to be held between February 19 and March 9, UAE has emerged as a possible venue with reports saying Dubai as the preferred city to host India’s matches.
In its tentative schedule, Pakistan had kept all India’s matches in Lahore for security and logistical reasons. But logjam over scheduling has forced the ICC to cancel its build-up programmes on Monday to mark the 100-day countdown of the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has informed its government of India’s refusal to tour and await its guidance on the matter.
A report in The Express Tribune said said Pakistani officials have neither conformed or denied on the matter of moving to court. But according to its unnamed sources, Islamabad is keen to pursue strong measures should India refuse to play in Pakistan.
The Pakistan government could also ban future matches against India until improvement in political relations.
Despite the prevailing political tension, Pakistan had travelled to India in 2012-13 for a bilateral series and toured for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“If India does not participate, we will pursue all available options. Our stadiums and security meet international standards, leaving no valid reason for India’s absence,” the source told The Express Tribune.
“If India doesn’t attend, we may lose revenue, but they will lose too if we don’t play them in future tournaments. Pakistan will not accept any model that relocates matches outside its borders,” the official said, pointing to the potential financial impact on both teams.
India haven’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008 citing security issues in the midst of prevailing geo-political tension between the neighbouring countries. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
