NEW DELHI, Nov 8: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is learnt to have officially communicated to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it will not send its men’s team for the next year’s Champions Trophy across the border to Pakistan.
The BCCI has also communicated that it wanted India’s matches to be held at a neutral venue with Dubai leading the race. “Yes, the BCCI has conveyed their concerns regarding Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. They want to play matches at a neutral venue and Dubai is the strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue,” official sources said on Friday.
Ever since the ICC awarded the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan, there have been concerns over India’s participation in the marquee event given the diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The schedule for the competition is expected to be announced by November 11.
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in hybrid model last year after India refused to travel to the country. The Rohit Sharma-led side played all their matches in Sri Lanka. As per the publication, Dubai has emerged as the top neutral venue to host India’s matches given its past success with hosting high profile cricket tournaments with the ICC also having its headquarters in the city.
“There are no issues in Dubai. Hotels are not a problem, logistics not a problem, everything can be handled smoothly. And ICC does have things in control when it comes to Dubai,” the sources said. The BCCI is yet to publicly make any comment on India’s participation in the Champions Trophy which will be held for the first time since 2017.
The sources also claimed that the PCB was willing to make adjustments to the Champions Trophy schedule. “The PCB feels that even if the Indian government does not clear the tour to Pakistan slight adjustments can be made to the schedule, as in all probability India would play its matches in Dubai or Sharjah,” a PCB source had said.
(Manas Dasgupta)