The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has mentally readied itself for a possible scenario where India is unwilling to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, but the board will not change the venue for the title clash of the tournament from Lahore even if the two countries reach the finals on March 9, sources revealed on Friday.
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‘The PCB’s first choice and priority is to organize whole Champions Trophy in Pakistan and they are hoping this but still the Board is also geared up internally to listen to about Indian government not allowing its players to compete in Pakistan and matches of India being played in UAE,’ said a PCB official.
The source added, “But the Pakistan Cricket Board has resolved that even if Pakistan does not host India, the final match will still take place in Lahore. The final match will be scheduled in Lahore, Gaddafi Stadium by the PCB even if India becomes a finalist.”
India and Pakistan have not enjoyed any cricketing relations since the 2008 Mumbai attacks which claimed 175 lives and injured nearly 300.
BCCI may also request ICC for a hybrid model of hosting the matches like in Asia Cup last year with some of their matches being played in Sri Lanka or Dubai.
Gaddafi stadium staged the final of World cup 1996. The stadium’s sits capacity is currently being increased.
The source also claimed that PCB’s Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer will present estimated costs incurred by the PCB on renovation and upgrading work of stadiums in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore ahead of the Champions Trophy’s competition.
“The particulars will be submitted along with the highest on paper budget amounting to roughly 7 billion set aside for the renovation exercise of the stadium in Lahore,” the source further explained.
He also stated that Naqvi would clarify during the ICC gathering that if it is not possible for India to travel to Pakistan for the entirety of the tournament, they shall be required to appear for the final match should they reach that stage in Lahore.
“This has even annoyed the PCB that all this talk of relocation of the ICC Champions Trophy has surfaced and as Naqvi is very firm that Pakistan will conduct the tournament, this will be a matter to be addressed.” He added.
In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) official’s collective claim escalated tension within the PCB as they said this week that moving the tournament out of Pakistan was an option that ICC and its members considered.
The source said that the PCB expects to obtain a concrete response at the forthcoming meeting from the BCCI officials about the current status (if any) of their efforts for a government clearance to send a team to Pakistan for the tournament next year.
PCB officials will give elaborate presentations on the status of the tournament preparations and the current state of the construction works.
Pakistan has found itself in Group A with Indian, Bangladeshi, and New Zealand teams for the Champions Trophy and PCB has suggested that all the matches for Indian side be played in Lahore.
Lahore will come alive as it will host seven matches inclusive of the finals. The cities of Karachi and Rawalpindi will host the opening match and a semi-final respectively, with Rawalpindi hosting five matches and the other semi-final as well.
