MUMBAI: With India likely to express its inability to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in February next year due to a lack of government clearance, the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings from July 19-22 in Colombo could become particularly eventful.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah is set to travel to Colombo on Thursday for these crucial meetings, culminating in the Annual General Meeting on July 22. Although the official agenda of the AGM doesn’t mention a discussion on the issue, it is expected that the topic will be addressed under the ‘any other business’ category. The meeting will see participation from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, representing Pakistan.
Champions Trophy Schedule and Potential Complications
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9. According to the PCB’s proposed schedule, India is slated to play all three of their league matches in Lahore:
- February 20 vs Bangladesh
- February 23 vs New Zealand
- March 1 vs Pakistan
The semifinals are planned for Karachi (March 5) and Rawalpindi (March 6), with the final set for Lahore on March 9.
If India refuses to tour Pakistan, the ICC may consider a hybrid model for the tournament, potentially having India play their matches in the UAE or Sri Lanka. However, such a move is likely to provoke a strong response from the PCB.
Additional Highlights
- BCCI Secretary’s Schedule: Jay Shah may also attend the India vs Pakistan Women’s Asia Cup match in Dambulla on Friday.
- India’s Next T20 Captain: The suspense over India’s next T20 captain—whether Hardik Pandya or Suryakumar Yadav—continues. The Indian team is expected to be picked on Thursday. In a recent online meeting, new head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selectors discussed the possibility of giving Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s second-ranked T20 batsman, the regular T20 captaincy, considering Hardik’s susceptibility to injuries.
As these developments unfold, the cricketing world watches closely, anticipating decisions that could significantly impact the upcoming Champions Trophy and the dynamics of international cricket.
