The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cancelled a Champions Trophy-related event to be held in Lahore on Monday. This came as the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed receiving a letter from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stating that the Indian Team wouldn't be travelling to Pakistan.
The international cricketing body had planned a 100-day countdown for the Champions Trophy that was scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 next year. Though there were speculations that the countdown event could be postponed or cancelled, there was no confirmation until Sunday.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that they received a letter from the BCCI citing that the team wouldn't be travelling to Pakistan for the tournament. The letter sent to the ICC was formally forwarded to PCB.
The PCB said the letter from the BCCI has been forwarded to the Government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance, reported Cricbuzz.
In the letter, the BCCI had reportedly told the ICC it had been advised by the Indian government to avoid sending the team to Pakistan. Earlier, an official had claimed that the BCCI was in discussions with Pakistan and participating nations on the Champions Trophy schedule.
With the BCCI clearing its stance, now the PCB will have to think about the 'Hybrid Model'. However, the hindrance is that the PCB does not agree to the hybrid model for the tournament, with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi stating that no talks were held regarding such an idea and the PCB was not ready for that. He added that the PCB would need it in writing any objections on the part of BCCI before he can discuss the issue.
However, the ICC was already preparing for a hybrid scenario considering that India hadn't travelled to Pakistan for a tournament since the 2008 Asia Cup. The global body has approved a budget of approximately $65 million at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo, which also covers holding matches outside Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. The schedule and ticketing details are yet to be announced.