Senior ECB officials have admitted that cricket’s need to “protect broadcast rights” will see no changes to the teams participating in next year’s Champions Trophy, regardless of whether India decides to travel to Pakistan. The tournament will be held in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, but India has not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008.
Richard Gould and Richard Thompson, chief executive and president of the ECB, said on Wednesday that there are “many different alternatives and contingencies available” in case India does not travel to Pakistan, raising the possibility of a hybrid model being used. But they made it clear that going ahead with the Champions Trophy without India’s participation is not an option.
Pakistan has not hosted a major ICC event since co-hosting the Men’s 50-over World Cup in 1996 and the PCB has said it is “fully committed” to hosting a “world-class” event. . The final decision on whether India will travel to Pakistan or not will depend on whether the Indian government grants the team permission to do so.
“It would not be beneficial for cricket if India did not play in the Champions Trophy,” Thompson said. “It is interesting that Jay Shah, former BCCI secretary and now ICC president, [who] is going to have a big role to play in that. There is geopolitics and then there is the geopolitics of cricket. I think they will find a way. They have to find a way.
Gould and Thompson are in Pakistan ahead of the upcoming ICC meetings in Dubai, and have met PCB officials in Multan during England’s second Test match. Gould said cricket’s reliance on broadcast rights as a source of income ensured that both India and Pakistan featured. “If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcasting rights do not exist and we must protect them,” he said.
“They [Pakistan] They are the host nation. We have seen the events and we are all waiting to know if India will travel. That’s the key. We think there are some discussions and relationships where they need to be. I know Pakistan expects India to travel. There are many different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn’t happen.
“It wouldn’t be in the interest of cricket if India didn’t play in the Champions Trophy. It’s interesting, with Jay Shah – former BCCI secretary and now ICC president – [who] is going to have a big role to play in that. “There is geopolitics and then there is the geopolitics of cricket.”
Richard Thompson, president of the ECB
“There are a variety of different options available if those circumstances arise. But also, when was the last time Pakistan hosted any kind of ICC trophy? This is a great moment for the country, and hopefully we can have the most competitive possible in Pakistan, if that is not possible, we know there are options available.
Thompson predicted that the exact nature of India’s involvement would “reach the breaking point.” He said: “That’s between India and Pakistan, and I think they will find a way to get India into the Champions Trophy… These things tend to go all the way, as history has shown us, so I think in those [last] six months, they will find a way.”
The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, with two groups of four followed by semifinals and a final. The participating teams are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
The ICC was contacted for comment.
Matt Roller is assistant editor at Pak Gazette. @mroller98
