Tension has increased within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the Champions Trophy to be held next year. There are high chances that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan due to security reasons. The Indian government is yet to give approval to the Indian team to tour Pakistan. The PTI news agency report stated that if India does not travel to Pakistan, the tournament could be organized under the “hybrid model”. In such a situation, the competitions can take place in Dubai or Sharjah.
‘BCCI please write…’
It was also stated in the PTI report that Pakistan has agreed to conduct this tournament under the “hybrid model” and that India will play all its matches in the UAE. However, the ICC has not issued any official statement in this regard. Now PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi’s statement on the entire matter has come to light. Naqvi said if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has any problem, it will have to be reported in writing. Only after this can we talk about a “hybrid model.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi talks to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium while inspecting the upgrade of the venue. pic.twitter.com/TyO64WLAyX
– Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 8, 2024
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi said: ‘Our clear position is that if the BCCI has any problem, they will have to communicate it to us in writing. To date we have not talked about any ‘hybrid model’, but we are willing to talk about it. Now if the Indian media is reporting this, then the ICC must have given us some letter or the Indian Board must have written it somewhere. So far neither I nor the PCB have received any such letter.
Naqvi says, “We want cricket to be free of politics.” This type of politics should not happen in any sport in the world. We will continue with the preparations for the Champions Trophy, which you are watching now. If India decides to withdraw, we will follow our government’s advice and respond accordingly as our relations have been very cordial with the BCCI on many occasions in the past.
When will the schedule for this tournament be revealed?
Let us tell you that Pakistan Cricket Board prepared the Champions Trophy schedule and sent it to ICC and its member countries. According to the Pakistani media The Express Tribune, an ICC delegation will arrive in Lahore from November 10 to 12 and will take stock of all the preparations. Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy schedule can be announced on November 11.
If reports are to be believed, it will be launched in Karachi on February 19. While the final will be held in Lahore on March 9. The opening match will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand. Also, according to the schedule, India and Pakistan remain in the same group. The Bangladesh team will be there along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand in PA. While England, South Africa, Australia and Afghanistan remained in Group B.
The match between India and Pakistan will be held in Lahore on March 1. All Indian matches are held in Lahore. Despite all this, the BCCI has not given any official confirmation regarding the India trip. The last tour of the Indian team to Pakistan was in 2008. Then, under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian team played the Asia Cup on the tour of Pakistan. Team India then reached the final, where they lost by 100 runs at the hands of Sri Lanka.
