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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remain optimistic of hosting next year’s Champions Trophy entirely on home soil and see “no reason” for it to be moved out of the country. The PCB’s comments come shortly before an official visit by an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation, who will be arriving in Pakistan on Monday to inspect ongoing preparations for what is described by some as a ‘mini World Cup’.
The ICC delegation will also consist of a security expert and will visit all the proposed venues, with focus on Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. The upcoming event is set to be the first global event taking place in Pakistan since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
“The delegation will be given briefings on the preparations. They will visit the venues in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi to see the upgradation work we will be carrying out for the Champions Trophy,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday.
Last month a delegation of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had also visited Pakistan to inspect the security and other arrangements for their team’s tour to the country in mid-April for five T20 Internationals.
Naqvi reiterated that the Champions Trophy would be held on schedule in Pakistan.
Asked if Pakistan would consider a tit-for-tat response if the Indian government refused to send its team to Pakistan, Naqvi said “why are we even discussing such possibilities”.
“We had a good meeting in Dubai on the tournament and its technical side and as far as we are concerned we see no reason the event would not be held in Pakistan so why even discuss other scenarios,” he added.
Impact Shorts
View AllIndia had refused to send its team for the Asia Cup last year in August which led to a number of matches being moved to Sri Lanka.
With PTI inputs