2024 T20 World Cup winners Team India has given a huge blow to Pakistan’s ambitions of hosting the Champions Trophy in a proper manner as they have refused to travel to the country for next year’s mega event. India’s Cricket Governing Body, the BCCI has written an email to ICC in this regard and has informed that the Indian government has not given permission for Team India to go to Pakistan.
ICC has also forwarded this email to Pakistan Cricket Board and they have informed them about their fierce rival’s refusal to travel to their neighbouring country. Now there is an uproar in Pakistan. Former captain Javed Miandad has called it a funny move and has even warned ICC.
Relations between India and Pakistan are not good. Cricket has been disrupted many times due to political disputes between the two nations. Both countries have not played a bilateral series versus each other since 2012. Both teams lock horns against each other on the Cricket field only ICC Tournaments and the Asia Cup. This is the reason why India has refused to go to Pakistan.
Pakistan did not like this move of India. Great batsman and former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has said that without India, Pakistan can not only survive in world cricket but can also progress.
PTI quoted Miandad as saying, “Is this a joke? Even if we do not play with India, we will not only survive in world cricket but will also progress. Just like we have done in the past. I want to see how ICC will earn money if there is no match between India and Pakistan.”
Ever since Pakistan got the hosting rights of Champions Trophy, there was a concern about whether India will come to Pakistan for the tournament or not as BCCI had said that the final decision will be taken by the Narendra Modi-led Indian government.
Will the Champions Trophy get held in a hybrid venue model in order to accommodate the Indian Cricket Team?
Last year, the Asia Cup was also hosted in Pakistan. Even then the Indian team refused to travel to their neighbouring country to take part in the tournament. That is why the competition was held in a hybrid model in which more than half of the matches were held in Sri Lanka and only a few matches were held in Pakistan. This time too, the BCCI is adamant on holding the Champions Trophy on the same model but Pakistan is not agreeing. Now it remains to be seen what action the ICC takes after BCCI’s clear refusal.
For more information, visit the official website of PTI