Although Pakistan is hosting the Champions Trophy, the question of the Indian team going to Pakistan to play the game remains. So the Champions Trophy could be organised on a ‘hybrid model’ like the Asia Cup. In this, Indian team matches can be played in UAE.
A source in the ICC executive board told ‘PTI’ that if the Indian government does not want to send the Indian team to Pakistan, then the ICC cannot put pressure on the board. He has to find an alternative. Currently, the meeting of the ICC board members is going on in Dubai. This topic is not included in the agenda of the meeting and can be discussed among the members on the sidelines of the meeting.’
Last year also, Pakistan got the title of host of the Asia Cup. Even after that, when India did not go there, the tournament was played on a ‘hybrid model’. In the final match held in Colombo, the Indian team defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win the title.
After a long wait of almost 29 years, the ICC tournament will be played in Pakistan. The last time some of the ODI World Cup matches were played in Pakistan was in 1996.
The discussion on the Champions Trophy is not on the agenda of the ICC meeting. However, newly elected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said on the sidelines of the meeting that he will try to get assurances by talking to BCCI secretary Jai Shah and senior ICC officials.
A member of the ICC board said, “The Indian board will take a decision as the date of the competition approaches.” But, the possibility of it being organized in UAE cannot be ruled out. The source also said that this is not a subcontinental competition like the Asia Cup but a global competition. So the Indian government can take a soft stance.
On the question of going to Pakistan, the former BCCI official said, “We should not forget that the Indian cricket team is more at risk than Australia, New Zealand or England teams. In fact, the relations between India and Pakistan are not good at present. There has been a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan. However, no player or support staff were injured in the attack.
