After months of silence from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s travel plans for the Champions Trophy, there have been swift developments about the decision in the past few days. On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that BCCI has formally refused to send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming eight-team mega-event. As per the ICC, the Indian government denied the BCCI permission to travel. As an alternative, the BCCI has suggested a hybrid model for the tournament, with India’s matches arranged at a neutral venue, preferably the UAE or Sri Lanka.
However, the PCB has firmly opposed the hybrid model proposition and has insisted upon hosting the entire tournament within Pakistan. A senior PCB official confirmed to ESPN Cricinfo that there is ‘no chance’ that the board will adopt this model this time. For the Asia Cup last year, which was Pakistan’s first multi-nation event as a host after cricket’s seven-year-long hiatus from the country, the cricket governing body of Pakistan agreed to arrange a few of the games in Sri Lanka to accommodate India. However, the model is reported to have caused Pakistan damage both financially and strained players physically and mentally due to frequent travelling.
As per the reports, the PCB has asked the ICC to demand a written refusal from the Indian board along with the explanations behind the decision. It is understood that the board has taken the matter to the Pakistan government, which will decide on Pakistan’s final decision.
Pakistan and India’s tense political relations are hardly breaking news for anyone. These relations have also affected the cricket between both nations immensely. Both sides have not played bilaterally for over a decade now. Despite that, Pakistan visited India for the ODI World Cup last year for the first time since the two played a white-ball series there. PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, said that the team was only allowed to travel to India for the World Cup so that the men in blue could return the favor for the Champions Trophy. Naqvi, while talking to the media in Lahore, said recently that India should not expect Pakistan to show such ‘great gestures’ each time.
“Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past, and we’d like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time [if they refuse to come]. The government will decide if Pakistan travel for any future event in India if they don’t come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The PCB will not decide that.” said the PCB chair.
He also maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics even if you do not get a long with a country
“Cricket should be free of politics. Any sport should not be entangled with politics. If you don’t get along with another country, that’s another matter, but politics should not be involved in sport.” Mohsin Naqvi said answering the media.
An official launching event for the Champions Trophy was scheduled to be held this past weekend, however, the uncertainty that now surrounds the scheduling more than ever has forced the board to postpone the ceremony. As of now, the eight-nation tournament is set to be played from February 19 to March 9 across three venues in the country. Besides being the hosts, the men in green are also the defending champions having lifted the trophy in the last edition in 2017.
