A decision will be taken on November 29 whether the Champions Trophy, which will be held in February next year, will be held in Pakistan or not. According to an ESPN report, the ICC has called a board meeting in Dubai.
After Pakistan got the chance to host the Champions Trophy, India refused to go there due to security reasons. It was then believed that like the Asia Cup, the Champions Trophy would also be held on a hybrid model.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier proposed to hold all India matches in Lahore and send the players to India after the matches. While India did not accept this, the (PCB) also refused for a hybrid model.
The ICC may propose a hybrid model at the meeting, which may lose hosting rights if the PCB does not accept it. There is little chance of putting pressure on India to go and play in Pakistan.
The Indian team has not visited Pakistan since the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
Pakistan rebuilt the stadium Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is continuously preparing for Champions Trophy 2025. PCB has almost completed the work of all three stadiums. They have spent 12.5 billion Pakistani rupees on the renovation of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi stadiums.
Meanwhile, the Indian government had refused to send its team to Pakistan. The BCCI had told the ICC that the team would not play the tournament in Pakistan. If Pakistan does not agree to the hybrid model, the tournament may shift to another country.
Image of renovation of Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan. Credit-PCB
ICC asked BCCI to give reasons for not sending Team India to Pakistan The ICC had sought a written reply from the BCCI on not sending the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The PCB has sought a written copy of India's reply from the ICC, ANI wrote, quoting a report by Pakistani channel Geo News.
PCB wrote a letter to ICC – Why can't Pakistan come to India? The Pakistan Cricket Board has sought a response from the ICC regarding Team India not going to Pakistan. According to a Cricbuzz report, a PCB spokesperson said there was no security issue in Pakistan. That is why teams from New Zealand, England and Australia visited here. When this team can come, why not Team India?
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
