NEW DELHI: The Champions Trophy has been rocked by reports that India’s men’s cricket team will not be going to Pakistan for the tournament next year.
The top one-day tournament following the World Cup, Champions Trophy features competition from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
In the previous edition, which took place in England and Wales in 2017, Pakistan defeated India in the final at The Oval.
The International Cricket Council, the authority that oversees cricket, is in charge of the tournament.
The Champions Trophy, also called the Mini World Cup, which will be in its ninth edition next year and was first presented in 1998 as ICC KnockOut Trophy,.
If India Qualify for Champions Trophy Knockouts, They Will Be Played at a Neutral venue
The tournament is currently scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. Due to the uncertainty, no match schedule has been made public.
Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi are the three cities scheduled to host matches. This would be Pakistan’s first time hosting a global ICC event since they co-hosted the ODI World Cup in 1996.
The ICC sent the PCB an email stating that India would not be visiting the nation for the tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Sami Ul Hasan said AFP.
The concept of a hybrid tournament, in which India would play its matches at neutral locations, like the United Arab Emirates, had already been rejected by PCB chairman Moshin Naqvi.
The PCB had anticipated a reciprocal gesture for the Champions Trophy when Pakistan traveled to India for the ODI World Cup last year.
India played its matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup in Pakistan last year, which was held under a hybrid format.
Pakistan and India have only competed in ICC multi-nation tournaments.
The last time India went to Pakistan was during the Asia Cup in 2008.
The BCCI, India’s influential cricket board, has refrained from commenting publicly. Similarly, the BCCI has significant influence at the ICC.
Next month, BCCI secretary Jay Shah will assume the role of ICC chairman.
Removing India from the equation does not seem to be in the cards, despite speculation in the Indian and Pakistani media about how the standoff might be resolved.
The two teams’ cricket matches are among the most watched events on the world sports calendar.
“If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we need to protect them,” England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould said last month.
He added: “This is a big moment for Pakistan, and hopefully we can have the fullest possible competition in Pakistan.
“If that’s not possible, we know there are options available.”