The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designated Lahore as the exclusive location for the India matches in next year’s Champions Trophy, which has been assigned to Pakistan.
Although the precise timetable for the eight-team 50-over tournament hasn’t been confirmed yet, it is expected to commence in mid-February. Karachi and Rawalpindi have also been identified as venues for the tournament.
PCB’s Strategic Venue Selection for India Matches in the Champions Trophy
Amid uncertainties surrounding India’s visit to Pakistan, considering the strained relations between the two nations and India’s refusal to participate in the Asia Cup last year, the PCB has carefully chosen Lahore as the venue for the India matches. The PCB is planning to host the two-week Champions Trophy in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. The rationale behind this decision is to facilitate easier access for fans, as Lahore is a border city, allowing supporters to cross through Wagah to watch their team play with minimal difficulty.
Furthermore, the organizers aimed to streamline logistics for the Indian team by ensuring that they only need to stay in one city and avoid extensive travel between venues. The PCB recently revealed that it has submitted the blueprint of the Champions Trophy, along with the selected venues, to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan, as the reigning champions of the Champions Trophy, clinching victory over India in the final at the Oval during the last edition in 2017, anticipates hosting the tournament for the first time. While the event was initially allocated to Pakistan in 2008, security concerns led to its relocation, with South Africa hosting it in 2009.
Initially known as the ICC Knockout Trophy, the tournament debuted in 1998 in Dhaka and then in 2000 in Nairobi. In 2002, it underwent a name change to the ICC Champions Trophy. Initially held biennially until 2009, the event then transitioned to a quadrennial cycle. However, this time around, there has been an eight-year gap before its staging. The competition features the top eight teams in the ODI rankings.
The tournament structure consists of an initial round comprising two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, with the respective winners facing off in the final showdown. “The event is short, sharp and highly competitive,” says the ICC.
Since the Asia Cup in 2008, India has refrained from traveling to Pakistan due to a variety of factors, initially stemming from security concerns and later exacerbated by diplomatic tensions between the two nations. During the Asia Cup last September, the PCB, designated as the host, had to acquiesce to a hybrid model involving two venues, leading India to play their matches in Sri Lanka.
Uncertainties Surrounding India’s Participation in the Champions Trophy
Earlier this week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the board had submitted a draft schedule of the tournament, likely to be held in mid-February next year, to the ICC. Discussions involving the eight participating members will ensue, with the primary point of contention likely to revolve around whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan.
Since the reintroduction of international cricket to Pakistan in 2015, every team participating in the Champions Trophy has toured and played in Pakistan, with the exception of India. No Indian team has visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Bilateral relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated, especially following the Mumbai terror attacks in the same year. These attacks marked the end of a period of increased cricketing engagements, during which the teams played each other in four bilateral series in the preceding four years.
During last year’s Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan, a hybrid model was implemented, with India playing all their matches, including those against Pakistan, in Sri Lanka. The tournament’s final, won by India, was held in Colombo.
Although Pakistan had proposed a hybrid model for their participation in the ODI World Cup in India last year, it was not seriously pursued. Pakistan ultimately played all their matches in India, across five venues, before being eliminated in the group stages.
The forthcoming response from the administrators of India, Pakistan, and the ICC regarding this matter, as well as the reaction from respective governments, especially India’s, will be closely observed.
The final decision regarding India’s visit to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will rest with the Indian government rather than the BCCI.
During an event in Karachi on Tuesday evening, Naqvi expressed optimism that “all eight teams” would participate in the event in Pakistan, though he refrained from discussing specifics about India’s stance.
