NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to cancel a significant event connected to the upcoming Champions Trophy, originally set to take place on November 11 in Lahore, according to a report by Cricbuzz.
The cancellation stems from ongoing disagreements over the tournament’s schedule, particularly regarding India’s participation in the eight-team 50-over tournament, planned for February 19 to March 19, 2025.
The ICC had intended to use the November 11 event to kick-off the tournament, marking 100 days until the championship began. However, these plans have been put on hold due to uncertainty surrounding India’s willingness to travel to Pakistan. An ICC official has confirmed that the schedule is still under discussion with Pakistan, the host nation, and other participating countries.”The schedule is not confirmed, we are still in discussions with the host and participating nations on the Champions Trophy schedule. Once confirmed we will announce through our normal channels,” an ICC official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Although the ICC hasn’t officially explained the cancellation, sources indicate that scheduling conflicts, exacerbated by India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan, are the primary reasons. There are also suggestions that the ICC might cite Lahore’s severe smog as a contributing factor, with some officials hinting that weather conditions could be used as a reason to postpone the event.
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The Champions Trophy was initially planned to be held across multiple cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. However, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informing the ICC that it hasn’t received government approval to send its team to Pakistan, a hybrid model for the tournament is looking increasingly likely. This arrangement would involve moving some matches, especially those featuring India, to the UAE.
Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, has expressed his frustration over the lack of official communication regarding India’s participation.
“We have a clear stance that they must give it to us in writing if they [the Indian cricket board] have any issues. Till today, we have not spoken about any hybrid model, but we’re ready to speak on this,” Naqvi told reporters in Lahore recently. He also mentioned that neither the PCB nor the ICC has received any formal communication from the BCCI on this matter.
India’s original schedule had them facing Bangladesh on February 20, New Zealand on February 23, and Pakistan on March 1, all in Lahore. Adjustments to the tournament venues, if not the dates, seem unavoidable.
