New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has left the task up to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to convince the BCCI to send Team India to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which they are set to host in the first quarter of next year. A PCB source has revealed that at the recent ICC meeting held in Colombo, the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved but the scheduling and format didn’t come up for discussion at all.
“The PCB now has done what was required of it as hosts of the Champions Trophy. It has submitted the draft schedule and format for the event and also submitted the budget for the event. It is now up to the ICC how soon they circulate, discuss, and finalise the schedule of the Champions Trophy. The PCB for its part in the draft schedule has suggested hosting all of India’s games in Lahore including a semifinal (if India qualifies) and final,” a PCB insider said.
Another PCB source said that the national body has already submitted the necessary details to the ICC as hosts of the Champions Trophy. “The PCB for its part has given in writing to the ICC about the tax modalities, venue selections, and clearance from its government for the Indian team to be hosted in Pakistan for the mega event,” he added.
ICC had awarded the hosting rights to Pakistan after PCB had initially submitted its expression of interest in hosting the event back in 2021 during the time when Ehsan Mani was the Chairman of the board. They were awarded the rights in 2022 by the ICC and later on when Ramiz Raja was the chairman of the PCB, the board submitted its final documentation for agreeing to be the hosts, signing it with the ICC.
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The source went on to reveal that the current PCB chief, Mohsin Naqvi didn’t have any formal meeting with Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, or any other officials from the body regarding the matter. He further said that the exchanges between Naqvi and Shah were warm and friendly during the ICC meeting.
The PCB has now left it up to the ICC to finalise the schedule of the marquee event and announce it, while also getting confirmation from the BCCI whether the Indian government is willing to send the team to Pakistan. The ICC has already kept supplementary expenses in its tournament budget to tackle any situation where the Indian team has to play its games outside of Pakistan.
Both nations have not played a bilateral series since 2012 and the Indian team hasn’t crossed borders since 2007, specifically after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The BCCI has remained intact on the decision (to send the team to Pakistan) being the government’s call as even during the 2023 Asia Cup, which was hosted by Pakistan, saw India following the hybrid model and playing all its games in Sri Lanka.
All of India’s games at the Champions Trophy have been scheduled in Lahore including a possible semi-final and final and the marquee clash between the arch-rivals has been scheduled on March 1.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is done with all the formalities required of them in the tune-up to hosting the Champions Trophy next year and have left the task up to the ICC to finalise the schedule including assurance from the BCCI to send Team India to Pakistan. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
