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The International Cricket Council has sought a response from the Pakistan Cricket Board on hosting the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model following India’s refusal to travel to the country for the tournament. The PCB on Sunday confirmed that it received an email from the ICC that India declined to travel to the neighbouring country. “The current plan is to hold India’s matches in the UAE and the final in Dubai unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy,” a source told PTI on Monday.
The source also stated that the Indian Cricket Board had informed the ICC that they would only accept a hybrid model if the final was held in Dubai rather than Pakistan.
The PCB did not respond to the BCCI’s announcement to the ICC on Monday that it would not be sending a team to play in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. However, sources claim that the ICC has asked the PCB to clarify whether they are comfortable with a hybrid model in which India’s matches and the final would be played in Dubai.
The PCB has been promised by the ICC that they will receive the majority of the matches and all hosting fees under this arrangement.
According to the source, “the ICC has informed the PCB that it would receive its full hosting fees and the majority of the matches if it chooses to proceed with hosting the mega event on a hybrid model.”
The source went on to say that the ICC might think about moving the entire tournament to South Africa if the PCB decides not to host it because of India’s rejection.
A PCB source had previously stated that there was “no talk” of a hybrid model at this time and that they would ask the ICC for more clarification.
According to a trustworthy PCB source, “there is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model system as of now,” PTI was informed.
According to the source, “the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision, so an email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department.”
“The PCB is currently assessing the entire situation. The next course of action has not been decided. The source also stated that the PCB is in contact with the government for consultation and, if necessary, directives.
Pakistani media, meanwhile, conjectured about possible reactions, such as the PCB filing a lawsuit against the ICC and BCCI at the Geneva Court of Arbitration for Sport or the Pakistani government telling the PCB to completely avoid playing India.
India has not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes. Only in ICC tournaments do the two teams face off against one another.