Haren
At a virtual meeting called for by the International Cricket Council, The Indian Express understands that a hybrid model is likely to be proposed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the Champions Trophy which will see India’s three matches, a semifinal and the final to be played in a neutral country. The ICC has called for an all-important board meeting on Friday to end the impasse after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Thereafter, the ball would be in Pakistan’s court whether to accept the offer or not with the countdown ticking.
Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India communicated to the ICC that it has been denied permission by its government to travel across the border for the Champions Trophy, the status of the tournament has been in limbo. The PCB, headed by its country’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, has been strong in its stance that it won’t accept a hybrid model that was used at last year’s Asia Cup. PCB wants the entire Champions Trophy to be played at Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. However, fresh tensions rising in Pakistan, which led to Sri Lanka’s cricket board canceling it’s A team tour, is unlikely to help PCB’s stance during the meeting.
Pakistani authorities arrested nearly 1,000 supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the city’s police chief said on Wednesday. Khan’s aides alleged hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad, according to a Reuters report. Supporters of the former Pakistan cricket team captain stormed the capital this week to demand his release.
In the meeting on Friday — to be attended by representatives from 12 full member countries, three representatives from Associates, an independent director along with the ICC chairman and CEO — the ICC is likely to put two plans in front. According to one, out of the 15 matches, three of India’s group matches including one against Pakistan, one semi-final and the final will be played in a neutral country – with UAE being the frontrunner. As per the second plan, in case India doesn’t make it to the knockouts, both the semi-final and final would take place in Pakistan.
According to those in the know, the ICC believes the hybrid model is the best way to ensure all parties are happy as it has little control over its member boards. It is understood that if need be, even a vote would be called and if the hybrid model gets majority backing, then the ball would be in PCB’s court to accept it or not. During the meeting, the ICC is also likely to finalise UAE as a venue as it will reduce the travel time for teams to shuttle between matches from Pakistan. With a 19-day window allotted for the tournament (Feb 19-Mar 9), hosting it in Sri Lanka or South Africa could pose serious challenges for teams in terms of recovery with several teams complaining about the travel issues during the T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean.
It is understood that even if the hybrid model is proposed, the ICC would give PCB the time to get clearance from the Pakistan government. If PCB chooses to boycott the event as a mark of protest, it will stand to suffer huge income losses, which it cannot afford at this point in time. But ICC officials are hopeful the situation won’t reach such extreme levels as it could potentially affect future multi-team events.
