A breakthrough is anticipated in the deadlock surrounding the International Cricket Council Men’s Champions Trophy, as an ICC board meeting has been scheduled for November 29 (Friday).
The meeting would be held virtually, with all board members in attendance, sources told Aaj News on Tuesday.
During the virtual meeting, decisions regarding the hosting of the event would be made, taking all “relevant factors” into consideration.
Pakistan, the reigning champions after winning the last edition in England in 2017, is set to host the event from February 19 to March 9.
But India’s reluctance to visit the neighbouring country has marred the tournament.
The longstanding political tensions between the two nations have prevented India from visiting Pakistan since 2008, with matches occurring only at multi-team events. Notably, during last year’s Asia Cup, India played all their games in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model.”
Earlier this month, the ICC informed the PCB that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had officially communicated that India would not participate in the eight-nation tournament.
The ICC missed its key deadline to announce the mega event’s schedule. The matches so far are planned to be held at three venues across Pakistan: Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore.
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On November 19, sources told Aaj News that the body has convinced the Pakistan Cricket Board and other cricket boards to adopt a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. The ICC informed all cricket boards about the “significant financial losses” they would incur if India do not participate. The PCB has also been made aware of the financial repercussions of not hosting events in Pakistan.
ICC officials have maintained that adopting the hybrid model “is currently the best option” for the Champions Trophy.
If such reports proved true then it would be a major blow to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
“We will achieve our target and God willing safely hold the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” he told reporters at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium regarding the situation on November 18.
