International Cricket Council (ICC) as a custom announces the schedule of any ICC mega-event hundred days before the start of the tournament. However, Champions Trophy’s schedule has yet to see the light of the day. The schedule announcement was delayed when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told the ICC that Indian government has denied Rohit Sharma’s team the permission to travel to Pakistan for the eight-nation tournament. BCCI are happy to play the tournament in a hybrid setting, but Pakistan as the host of the event have clearly refused to accept that suggestion. This has, as was expected by everyone, brought the situation to an impasse.
Pakistan team hosted the Asia Cup last year according to a hybrid model with matches staged in Sri Lanka as the second venue after Pakistan. In addition to that, the men in green also traveled to India for the ICC ODI World Cup in hopes of seeing the Indian team reciprocate the favour this year. However, India’s reluctance has made Pakistan more stern with their stance, as has been reiterated by the board’s chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, many a times.
ICC has called a board meeting to resolve the issue about the venue. With neither sides budging from their demands, it is likely that a decision will be reached during the meeting by asking the members to vote. The ICC board of directors is an eighteen-member body including representatives from twelve full-member nations, three associate nations, an independent director as well as the CEO and chair of the ICC. The meeting will be held virtually. Interestingly, the said meeting was scheduled first to take place today.
Following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, PCB wrote to the ICC demanding answers to several of their questions apropos to when and why the BCCI communicated their decision to them. Reportedly, the global body has yet to respond to Pakistan.
Pakistan were awarded the hosting rights of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2021 and a window from February 19 to March 9 next year has already been reserved by the PCB for the tourney. Some reports have also suggested that Pakistan Cricket Board can go to an extent of boycotting games against India in the future as well. These reports did not sit well with the broadcasters of the Champions Trophy who told the ICC that a legal action will be taken against the body in case a schedule without an India-Pakistan fixture gets released.
ICC’s chairman, Greg Barclay is nearing the end of his tenure as the body’s premier. His seat will be taken over by Jay Shah, who currently serves as the BCCI’s honorary secretary. Apparently, the ICC wants this issue to be resolved before Shah assumes control on December 1.
PCB’s chair, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, has offered to hold dialogues to address India’s concerns before the tournament as well. But neither BCCI or ICC have stepped forward to act on the suggestion. The meeting on November 29 is likely to bring answers to all the questions surrounding the scenario.
