The ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over the Champions Trophy has taken another turn. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that India will not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team ICC tournament, suggesting a hybrid model where India’s matches are played at a neutral venue. This stance has drawn criticism, with former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal accusing the BCCI of “double standards.”
Akmal Calls for Consistency in ICC Policies
Kamran Akmal argued that if the hybrid model is adopted for the Champions Trophy, the same approach should apply to ICC tournaments hosted by India from 2025 to 2031, including the Men’s T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup. Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Akmal said, “If this Champions Trophy adopts a hybrid model with India not coming to Pakistan, then all ICC events in India should follow the same pattern, with Pakistan not touring India.”
The Need for a Permanent Solution
Akmal emphasized the need for the ICC to address the situation definitively. He suggested that Indo-Pak matches should not be scheduled in multinational tournaments until bilateral cricket between the two nations resumes. “The ICC must make a decision. Matches between India and Pakistan in multinational events should only happen after they start playing bilateral series again,” he added.
Short ICC Meeting Highlights the Deadlock
The Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi from February 19 to March 9, remains in limbo due to the standoff. A recent ICC board meeting to address the issue lasted just 15 minutes, underscoring the lack of progress.
‘Enough is Enough,’ Says Akmal
Expressing his frustration, Akmal recalled Pakistan’s willingness to play in India despite challenges. “Pakistan toured India during the 2016 World Cup, even though one match had to be shifted from Dharamshala to Kolkata. We also played in Ahmedabad last year despite reservations,” he said. Akmal urged Pakistan to take a firm stance to enhance its global image.
He criticized India for refusing to play in Pakistan over political issues while hosting Pakistan on Indian soil. “This is a double standard. On one hand, they avoid coming to Pakistan, and on the other, they play us in their country,” Akmal remarked.
A Long-Standing Rivalry
India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, and the last bilateral series between the two sides was in 2012-13. Pakistan, meanwhile, has not hosted an ICC event since 1996. In 2023, the Asia Cup adopted a hybrid model due to India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, setting a precedent for the Champions Trophy discussions.
The ICC now faces the challenge of resolving this impasse, with calls for fairness and consistency growing louder on both sides.
