After reports of hosts Pakistan mulling over the option of withdrawing from next year’s Champions Trophy if the tournament is taken away from the country following India’s refusal to visit the neighbours, fresh developments suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking for reasons behind India’s decision.
According to a report in ‘Dawn’, PCB is “preparing questionnaires” and will ask the ICC to explain the stand taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also an interior minister in the Pakistan federal government, has reportedly denied accepting a hybrid model, which will allow India to play their matches at a neutral venue.
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“As the BCCI has not given any reason behind its decision of not touring Pakistan, the future steps of the PCB to solve the issue can only be taken after knowing those,” the Dawn quoted its source.
The tournament, returning to the ICC calendar after seven years, is scheduled to be played from February 19 to March 9.
Besides the option of playing the tournament in a hybrid setting, ICC can take it out of Pakistan altogether and host it in a different country. Names of South Africa and the UAE are doing the rounds if that option is taken.
“In such a case, one of the options the government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don’t participate in the Champions Trophy,” an earlier report in ‘Dawn’ quoted its source.
Bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan have been on hold since 2012, although both nations continue to compete against each other in ICC events, with their most recent encounter being at the T20 World Cup hosted jointly by the USA and the West Indies last year.
Last year’s Asia Cup, which Pakistan was meant to host exclusively, adopted a hybrid arrangement due to India’s stance against playing in Pakistan. Consequently, the Indian team’s matches were relocated to Sri Lanka whilst Pakistan retained partial hosting rights.
The Indian team last travelled to Pakistan in 2008.