The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seeking urgent guidance from Pakistan’s federal government regarding the 2024 Champions Trophy after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan for the event in February. The Indian government’s decision to block the Indian team’s participation was communicated to the International Cricket Council (ICC), which in turn informed the PCB last Friday.
The PCB, under the leadership of chairman Mohsin Naqvi, has rejected the idea of a ‘hybrid’ hosting model, similar to the 2023 Asia Cup, where India would play its matches outside Pakistan while the rest of the tournament would be held in the host country. Sources suggest that the Pakistani government is likely to instruct the PCB to stand firm and refuse the hybrid model, meaning that the entire tournament would be held in Pakistan.
Read More: ICC Champions Trophy Schedule Delayed Due to India’s Refusal to Play in Pakistan
This situation has placed the ICC in a difficult position, as it must navigate the standoff between two major cricketing nations. The India-Pakistan match is a key highlight of any global tournament, drawing significant viewership. However, the PCB is concerned that Pakistan’s government may not permit the national team to travel to India for future ICC events, including the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India, in light of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
The financial importance of both India and Pakistan for ICC events has been acknowledged by many in the cricketing world, including ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould. The PCB has postponed a planned event in Lahore to mark the Champions Trophy countdown and is expected to push the ICC to formally request a written explanation from the BCCI regarding the Indian government’s travel ban.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the Champions Trophy is still scheduled to take place from February 19th to March 9th next year.
