If you speak to sources within the International Cricket Council (ICC), one thing is certain. It is very clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has little or no support within cricket’s governing body. The writing is on the wall for them. Either they can accept the hybrid model or give up on the Champions Trophy hosting rights. Dig deeper, and you will know that the other boards are now prepared for a Champions Trophy without Pakistan. The broadcasters will be compensated, and the ICC is more than ready to carry on if the PCB continues to play hard ball. Pakistan, on the other hand, stand to lose close to 65 million dollars, a sum that it can’t really afford to give up.
In the brief ICC meeting that happened on Friday afternoon, the PCB clearly understood what is likely to happen. Now, it is their call. If they accept the hybrid model, the ICC will meet again on Saturday. If they don’t, there could be a decision in the next couple of days which could go against Pakistan. Based on what has happened in Pakistan in the last few days, the PCB is in no position to stand firm or bargain. And every other board knows it.
India controls the purse strings and has enough money to take care of the broadcasters if the PCB don’t turn up. The wiggle room, or room for posturing, is diminishing by the hour, and now it is for the political establishment of Pakistan to take a prudent call.
The PCB’s tough stance was based on two assumptions. First, it had assumed that if Pakistan threatened to withdraw from the tournament, the ICC would find it tough to go ahead with it. And second, it needed to show a firm stance to its own people in Pakistan.
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Sources confirmed that all the boards are now aligned that the tournament can and will go ahead without Pakistan if they continue to play hard ball. All of them are united behind the BCCI, and there is absolutely no support for the PCB within the corridors of power. Also, if the tournament does go out of Pakistan, will the PCB be able to rally its own people? What impact would it have on Pakistan cricket and the players if the tournament was completely taken away from Pakistan because of ego issues?
A prominent cricket portal had reported that the agenda for Friday’s ICC board meeting included a third option: Holding the tournament in Pakistan without India taking part. The ‘source’ for that news must have been abusing some pretty potent substance because an ICC tournament without India is as likely as the pumpkin playing Cinderella. Every cricket board knows which side their bread is buttered. India’s millions of cricket fans and the revenue they bring are that butter.
For the BCCI and the ICC, it is now wait and watch for 24 more hours. If the PCB agrees, the ICC board would reconvene and things will move with immediate effect. If it doesn’t, the ICC will regroup and take a harsh call. Back-up plans are also being worked out, and all of these decisions will be taken in the next few days, in time for Jay Shah to take over as the new ICC boss.
The truth is that Pakistan is trying to turn a blind eye to existing geopolitical realities. They haven’t been able to curb terrorist activities within their borders. Secondly, they don’t have the numbers within the ICC board to take on the BCCI. So, it is only a matter of time. Either they will accept the hybrid model and move ahead, or see the entire tournament taken away from them. Pakistan now runs the risk of being timed out if it doesn’t act fast. And a number of other countries are eagerly waiting for that to happen!
Also Read: Champions Trophy: Overwhelming support for hybrid model, Pakistan stands isolated in ICC