On Monday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi paid a visit to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to see the renovation work. The venues that will host the Champions Trophy matches next year have been going through the busy fingers of regeneration. With December 31 being the ICC deadline, there’s a race against time.
At the moment though, this is of secondary concern for the PCB. There’s a serious doubt whether Pakistan will get to host the Champions Trophy in its entirety. With the BCCI making its stand clear and refusing to send the team across the border for the tournament, a hybrid model appears to be the only option unless there’s a sudden change of heart from the Indian cricket board, or rather the Indian government.
The PCB has been doing a lot of posturing, which is expected. “I’m still positive on hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Naqvi told reporters. “We are in contact with the ICC and waiting for their reply to our email. The ICC is a governing body of all member countries and they have to safeguard their reputation.”
Then, the PCB chair went on the attack mode. “No one can give us a tough time,” he said. “We are capable of hosting the event with full security arrangements. Sports and politics should be kept apart.”
According to a source in the know, however, Naqvi is willing to reach out to the BCCI with a message that if the Indian cricket board shares its concerns with its Pakistani counterpart, then that would be addressed promptly.
The PCB wrote to the ICC a week ago, seeking clarifications on the BCCI’s decision that was conveyed to the game’s governing body. They are yet to get a response, and whatever the Pakistan cricket hierarchy says in public, deep down, there’s a feeling that for the tournament to be played fully in Pakistan, a political solution should be tried.
The BCCI’s decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan is down to not getting the approval from the Indian government. According to the source, a section in Pakistan cricket is in favour of back-channel diplomacy.
Former PCB chair Najam Sethi, who also served as a caretaker chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, has dropped a hint that a solution through back-channel diplomacy could be attempted. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif talking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.
“If Nawaz Sharif saab speaks to Narendra Modi saab and tells him to allow the Champions Trophy to take place in Pakistan, then according to some people, the chances could be bright,” Sethi said at Sethi Se Sawal programme on SAMAA TV.
On the face of it though, this appears a little far-fetched. As things stand, a hybrid model, with India playing their matches in Dubai seems more likely. The PCB will be the tournament host, like it was for last year’s Asia Cup where India’s matches were eventually played in Sri Lanka.