Mumbai, 30 November (IANS). While the whole world is waiting for the ICC’s decision on the fate of the Champions Trophy to be held in 2025, amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal says that the ICC should resolve the issue between the two countries. India-Pak matches should not be organized until bilateral cricket starts.
Akmal said that until a permanent solution to the issue is found, no matches should be held in multinational competitions between the two countries. He said that if the hybrid model is accepted for the Champions Trophy, it should also be ideal for ICC events held in India.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is to be played in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March. However, BCCI had flatly refused to tour Pakistan. This trophy has come into uncertainty after not getting the consent of the Indian government to go to Pakistan and play the match.
The ICC Board’s virtual meeting on Friday lasted just 15 minutes, after which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to back down from its stance against the hybrid model, which will see all India’s matches, one semi-final and the final played outside Pakistan. There was talk of leaving.
With the ICC likely to take a decision on the Champions Trophy soon, Akmal said the time has come to find a permanent solution to the problem.
The website quoted Akmal as saying, “The second solution in my view is that the ICC should not schedule India-Pakistan matches until the bilateral series takes place. Once they play each other, Once we start, only then should we play matches in any multinational competition.”
Pakistan has not hosted an ICC event since 1996, while India refused to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks, due to Pakistan’s politics supporting terrorism in India. The last bilateral series between the two countries took place in 2012–13, when Pakistan toured India for a five-match white-ball series.
The Champions Trophy is the latest event to be embroiled in controversy. Last year, Pakistan had to host the Asia Cup under the hybrid model.
–IANS
AMJ/AS
