The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delegated the responsibility to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to persuade the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send their team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. This tournament is scheduled to take place in the first quarter of next year. A source from the PCB revealed that although the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved at recent ICC meetings in Colombo, the schedule and format were not discussed.
“The PCB has completed its duties as the host of the Champions Trophy by submitting the draft schedule, format, and budget for the event,” said a PCB insider. “It is now up to the ICC to circulate, discuss, and finalize the schedule. The PCB has proposed hosting all of India’s matches, including a potential semi-final and final, in Lahore.”
Another source mentioned that the PCB has provided all necessary details in its expression of interest document to the ICC as the host of the Champions Trophy. “The PCB has informed the ICC in writing about the tax modalities, venue selections, and government clearance for hosting the Indian team in Pakistan,” the source added.
The PCB initially expressed interest in hosting the event in 2021 during Ehsan Mani’s tenure as Chairman. The ICC awarded the hosting rights in 2022, and the final documentation for the host agreement was submitted during Ramiz Raja’s chairmanship.
Although PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi did not have any formal meetings with BCCI secretary Jay Shah or other BCCI officials during the ICC meetings, the interactions between Naqvi and Shah were cordial.
The PCB has now left it to the ICC to finalize and announce the tournament schedule and to secure confirmation from the BCCI regarding the Indian team’s participation in Pakistan.
The ICC has included supplementary expenses in its tournament budget to cover situations where the Indian team might need to play matches outside Pakistan. The BCCI has always maintained that playing cricket in Pakistan is a decision for the government, as seen during the 2023 ODI Asia Cup, where India played all its matches in Sri Lanka under a ‘Hybrid Model.’
According to the draft schedule, all of India’s matches, including a possible semi-final and final, are slated to be held in Lahore, with the marquee India vs. Pakistan match scheduled for March 1.