ICC Meeting for Champions Trophy: A big decision can be taken today regarding the Champions Trophy to be hosted by Pakistan next year. An important decision is expected to be taken in this meeting regarding the venue of the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Pakistan has made it clear that organizing the Champions Trophy on the hybrid model is not acceptable to it at all.
Earlier, it has been clarified by India that due to security reasons the Indian team will not go to Pakistan to play the tournament. In such a situation, it is believed that Pakistan may face a big blow during today’s ICC meeting. A final decision can also be taken regarding organizing the Champions Trophy outside Pakistan.
Pakistan does not accept hybrid model
An important online meeting of the ICC has been called today to resolve the dispute arising over the organization of the Champions Trophy. Informed sources say that the Pakistan Cricket Board has told the ICC that the hybrid model is not acceptable to it under any circumstances. In this way, Pakistan is adamant on not organizing the tournament under the hybrid model.
The hybrid model has been opposed by the PCB for a long time. The board says that some other option should be found to organize the tournament. Pakistan Board has said that organizing the tournament on the basis of hybrid model will be nothing but giving preference to India.
PCB objects to this step of India
PCB has also told ICC that written instructions have not yet been submitted by India in which it is mentioned that the Government of India has instructed the Indian team not to tour Pakistan. .
Pakistan says that under ICC rules, if any team says that it has not received permission from the government to play in another country, then it will have to submit the instructions issued by the government in writing, but India has not yet given permission to play in another country. No such instructions have been presented till now.
Sri Lankan team ended the tour midway
India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The ICC has also said many times that it does not expect any member board to go against the advice of the government. Pakistan’s position has been further weakened by the ongoing violence and political protests in the country.
A few days ago, Sri Lanka’s A team had ended its tour of Pakistan midway due to the ongoing large-scale political protests and violence in Islamabad. Clashes and incidents of violence were reported at several places between protesters and security forces.
Financial crisis may increase for PCB
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is also the home minister of the country. He had announced that the army was called in to quell the unrest, but when it comes to organizing the Champions Trophy, the PCB is adamant on holding it here. However, Naqvi expressed hope that good news will come from the ICC meeting. India is going to host some big tournaments in the next few years.
Referring to this, Naqvi said that if Pakistan decides to boycott the Champions Trophy, then they will also have to boycott the tournament organized in India. This may burden the PCB with huge financial liabilities. Meanwhile, many cricketers including former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi have strongly criticized India’s decision of not playing in Pakistan.
