The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has scheduled their team’s match against arch-rival India on March 1st next year in the provisional schedule for the Champions Trophy. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet agreed to this. A senior member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) board informed PTI of this on Wednesday.
The tournament will be held from February 19 to March 9 next year, with March 10 designated as a reserve day. It has been learned that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has submitted a 15-match schedule, with India’s matches scheduled to be played in Lahore due to security and logistical reasons. Naqvi was invited to Barbados to watch the T20 World Cup final.
An ICC board member said, “The PCB has submitted the draft schedule for the 15 matches of the ICC Champions Trophy, with 7 matches in Lahore, 3 matches in Karachi, and 5 matches in Rawalpindi.”
The source added, “The first match will be held in Karachi, with the two semi-finals in Karachi and Rawalpindi and the final in Lahore. All of India’s matches (including the semi-final, if the team qualifies) are scheduled to be played in Lahore.”
India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Group B includes Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan.
Recently, ICC’s Head of Events, Chris Tetley, met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad. Prior to this, the global body’s security team had inspected the venues and other arrangements.
Will the Indian Team go to Pakistan?
Last time, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 under the ‘hybrid model,’ where India played their matches in Sri Lanka because the government did not allow the players to travel across the border.
A source said, “All board chiefs of the participating countries (except BCCI) have given their full support to the ICC Champions Trophy, but BCCI will consult with its government and update the ICC.”
Moreover, the ICC cannot force any board to go against its government’s policy, making it interesting to see when BCCI will make its decision on this matter.
Also Read: BCCI Announces India Cricket Team Home Schedule for 2024-2025: Check Full Schedule Now
When will BCCI make a Decision?
For the first time since 1996, Pakistan will host a major ICC tournament, although it hosted the entire Asia Cup in 2008 and some matches of the same tournament on home soil last year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to officially confirm whether it will send the national team to Pakistan for the ICC tournament. An announcement regarding the decision of BCCI is expected to come soon.
When was the last time India and Pakistan faced each other in the ICC Champions Trophy?
In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, India and Pakistan played two important matches against each other.
Group Stage Match:
- Date: June 4, 2017
- Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Result: India won by 124 runs (DLS method)
- Details: India batted first and scored 319 runs for 3 wickets in 48 overs (the match was shortened due to rain). Pakistan struggled in their batting and managed to score only 164 runs in 33.4 overs, with India winning comfortably.
Final Match:
- Date: June 18, 2017
- Location: The Oval, London
- Result: Pakistan won by 180 runs
- Details: Pakistan batted first and scored a big total of 338 runs for 4 wickets. India’s batting collapsed, and they were all out for just 158 runs in 30.3 overs. Pakistan won the match and the tournament, becoming the Champions Trophy 2017 winner.
These two matches were highly anticipated and watched by millions of cricket fans around the world.
