2 weeks ago
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A "hybrid model" for hosting the Champions Trophy volition not beryllium accepted by Pakistan, according to its Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi.
Pakistan is owed to signifier a archetypal planetary tourney since 1996, an eight-team 50-over contention successful February and March adjacent year.
However, governmental tensions betwixt Pakistan and India mean the 2 countries person not played each different extracurricular large tournaments successful 11 years and India person not visited Pakistan since 2008.
As a result, determination is speculation India could play their matches successful a state different than Pakistan, perchance the United Arab Emirates.
"Sports should enactment supra authorities and cricket should not beryllium sacrificed astatine the altar of politics," said PCB seat Naqvi.
The concern has not been publically addressed by the International Cricket Council, which is yet to officially people fixtures for the event. The tourney is slated to statesman connected 19 February, 100 days from Monday.
Confusion implicit the docket is making it hard for teams, supporters and media to marque plans for the event.
The tourney is made up of 2 groups of four, with the apical 2 advancing to the semi-finals. If India's matches are played extracurricular of Pakistan, it leads to the imaginable of the semis oregon last perchance needing 2 grounds much than 1,000 miles apart, with the eventual venue not known until India's advancement is determined.
On a imaginable India objection to travelling to Pakistan, Naqvi said: "Our stance is wide - they request to springiness america successful penning immoderate objections they whitethorn have.
"Until now, nary treatment of the hybrid exemplary has happened, nor are we prepared to judge one. The Indian media are reporting it, but nary ceremonial connection has reached the PCB.
"In lawsuit specified concern occurs, I volition attack my authorities and travel its directions."
Pakistan did question to India to instrumentality portion successful the 50-over World Cup past year, but erstwhile Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup successful the aforesaid twelvemonth India played their matches successful Sri Lanka.
The imaginable of the Champions Trophy taking spot without India would look to beryllium a non-starter due to the fact that of the fiscal dependency of cricket connected the nation.
Speaking past month, England and Wales Cricket Board main enforcement Richard Gould said: "If you play the Champions Trophy without India oregon Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we request to support them.
"There are a assortment of antithetic options disposable if those circumstances travel along. This is simply a large infinitesimal for Pakistan, and hopefully we tin person the fullest imaginable contention successful Pakistan. If that’s not possible, we cognize determination are options available."
England are owed to instrumentality portion successful their archetypal large tourney nether caller white-ball caput manager Brendon McCullum. Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand volition besides compete.
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