The BCCI is yet to give its consent to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB)’s tentative plan of hosting the marquee Pakistan vs India clash on 1 March in Lahore in next year’s Champions Trophy, a senior ICC board member was quoted as telling news agency PTI on Wednesday.
The ‘mini World Cup’ returns to action after eight years and will be taking place between 19 February and 9 March with a ‘Reserve Day’ on 10 March. Pakistan, the team that had won the tournament for the first time after defeating arch-rivals India in the final of the 2017 edition at The Oval, will be hosting the ninth edition of the tournament.
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PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who had been invited to watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, has reportedly submitted a 15-match schedule in which all of India’s games take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for security and logistical reasons.
“The PCB has submitted the draft of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven games in Lahore, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi,” an ICC Board member said.
“The opening match will be held in Karachi with two semi-finals in Karachi and Rawalpindi, final in Lahore. All India matches (including semi-final, if the team qualifies) in Lahore,” the source added.
India have been clubbed with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A. Group B comprises Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan.
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Impact Shorts
More ShortsRecently, ICC head of events Chris Tetley met PCB chief Naqvi in Islamabad after the world body’s security team inspected the venues and other arrangements.
The last tournament that Pakistan hosted was the Asia Cup in 2023, conducted in a ‘Hybrid Model’ with India playing their matches in Sri Lanka as the government refused to permit the players’ travel across the border.
“All board chiefs of the ICC Champions Trophy participating countries (minus BCCI) have assured him of their complete support but BCCI will consult its government and update the ICC,” the source added.
The ICC, on its part, can’t force any Board to go against its government policy and it will be interesting to see as to when BCCI takes a final call on the matter.
With PTI inputs