- ‘ICC in difficult position’ over Pakistan-India conflict: Source.
- Pakistan “expects to refuse to play against India” in any match.
- “Board of Directors approval” must be obtained to transfer the Champions Cup.
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council was left with limited options after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded to an email informing Pakistan of India’s decision not to travel to the neighboring country for the Cricket Champions Trophy.
According to informed sources, the Program Coordination Board has written a letter to the ICC requesting answers to some important questions.
Sources indicate that the PCB had asked the cricket governing body when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed them that the Indian cricket team would not participate in the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February 2025.
The PCB also inquired whether the BCCI had formally notified the ICC in writing of its rejection.
Additionally, the PCB questioned the reasons given by the Indian Cricket Board, if any, for its decision not to visit Pakistan.
The PCB has also requested a copy of the written letter from the BCCI explaining the reasons, so that it can be reviewed.
Another question raised by the PCB is how the ICC responded to the BCCI’s refusal to send its team.
Sources indicate that after getting answers to these questions, the PCC plans to seek legal advice and consult the government for guidance in formulating its next steps.
However, sources also stated that if India indeed refuses to send its cricket team to Pakistan and the ICC accepts this refusal, the PCB will categorically refuse to play any matches against the Indian cricket team during the Champions Trophy under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports in the Indian press that the ICC might move the event out of Pakistan, sources said there was no such development.
“The ICC has not approached Cricket South Africa to host the Champions Trophy,” the source said.
Another source added that it would be difficult for the ICC to move the Champions Trophy outside Pakistan, with less than 100 days to go before the event.
“How can they move it? They need council approvals to start, they need a good reason to change it and what could be a good reason, and when all the other councils are regularly visiting Pakistan for bilateral events, how will they vote? Against the ICC event in Pakistan,” the source said. .
“And in no case can they take it without a challenge from the PCB,” he said, adding that the current stance of the Pakistan Cricket Board has already created a headache for the ICC which was not expecting such a reaction.
Another source said Geographic News That there were three options, one of which was a hybrid model – which Pakistan had already publicly rejected. Without the host’s approval, the ICC will not be able to move forward with a hybrid model.
The other option was to move the event outside Pakistan – but that also appears to be a major challenge for the ICC.
Now the only option left is to find a middle way.
“The ball is now in the ICC’s court and they have to ensure revenue as well so that they are on the hook. Indians will not travel to Pakistan and as a result, Pakistan has taken a position that they will do so.” “You are not playing against India, so this is a difficult situation for the ICC,” the source said.
“And when you talk about revenue, the ICC knows that it cannot do without Pakistan. It knows the value of Pakistan cricket and understands its contribution to cricket revenue, which is why they are keen to make sure that both India and Pakistan at least play each other,” he said. Source: “Once in the ICC Champions Cup.”
To make matters difficult for cricket’s governing body, there was no precedent for the tournament being moved outside the actual host to accommodate a single team, or when a single team could not travel to any country.
“If you remember the 2009 T20 World Cup, the UK government did not issue visas to Zimbabwe. So, instead of moving the entire tournament, the ICC attempted a compromise which resulted in Zimbabwe withdrawing from the tournament and being replaced by Scotland.
“This indicates that it will never be easy for the ICC to move the tournament outside the declared host country without any reasonable basis and at the request of only one country,” she explained.