The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has scheduled its team’s Champions Trophy match against arch-rivals India in Lahore on March 1 next year, but the BCCI is yet to give its consent to the provisional schedule, an official said. senior member of the ICC Council told PTI on Wednesday. The tournament is scheduled from February 19th to March 9th, with March 10th as Reserve Day. It is understood that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was invited to watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, has come up with a 15-match schedule with all of India’s games held in Lahore for security and logistical reasons.
“The PCB has presented the draft of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven matches in Lahore, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi,” said an ICC Board member.
“The opening match will be held in Karachi, with two semi-finals in Karachi and Rawalpindi, and the final in Lahore. All of India’s matches (including the semi-final, if the team qualifies) in Lahore,” the source added.
India were defeated by Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A. Group B comprises Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan.
Recently, ICC head of events Chris Tetley met PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad after the world body’s security team inspected the venues and other arrangements.
The last tournament that Pakistan hosted was the Asia Cup in 2023, held in a ‘hybrid model’ with India playing their matches in Sri Lanka as the government refused to allow players to travel across the border.
“All the council heads of the countries participating in the ICC Champions Trophy (minus the BCCI) have assured him of their full support, but the BCCI will consult their government and update the ICC,” the source added.
The ICC, on the other hand, cannot force any Board to go against its government policy and it will be interesting to see when the BCCI will take a final decision on the matter.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
This story originally appeared on ndtv.com read the full story
