Champions Trophy: PCB proposal regarding India’s travel

WEB DESK: Indian media claimed on Saturday that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a proposal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s travel arrangements for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

A Crickbuzz report stated that “the PCB is understood to have written to the BCCI, offering assistance should the Indian team prefer to return to India – either to Chandigarh or New Delhi – after each game to avoid staying in Pakistan due to security concerns.”

As India’s second match, which sees them face off against New Zealand, is set to take place on February 23, there is a week-long break before their final group stage match against Pakistan, on March 1.

The news follows an earlier proposal by the International Cricket Council (ICC) broadcasters to have multiple venues for India’s matches in the tournament.

The initial proposed schedule had all three of India’s matches being played at the Gadaffi Stadium as Lahore is the closest city to the Indian border, and thus the most convenient out of all three locations. But, the PCB had no objection to their request, suggesting that the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium could be a second location.

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Should the Indian government choose to not allow India to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, there is a possible contingency plan that would see the tournament adopt a hybrid model. While all other teams would play their games in Pakistan, India’s matches would be held at a neutral venue.

Such a possibility was hinted at by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) earlier in the week, with the board’s chairman Richard Thompson stating “it would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing.”

One possible location for India’s matches in the hybrid model is Dubai, which was suggested by the BCCI. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah have all been locations at which Pakistan has played its ‘home’ games in international cricket, following the 2009 attack that injured six Sri Lankan players in Lahore and killed eight Pakistanis.

The last bilateral series between Pakistan and India ended in 2013 when the men in green traveled to India and won the ODI series 2-1. India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, in which they lost in the finals to Sri Lanka.

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