The ICC Champions Trophy final of next year, which is scheduled to be played on March 9 in Lahore, will be shifted to Dubai if the Indian team makes it there. So, there will be uncertainty over the venue till only days before the match.
The tournament will be held at all 15 venues from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan. Still, the ICC has not so far discussed any change in the tournament. Since India has not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008, no one could say if the Indian government would revoke the ban on travel to Pakistan. Therefore, the ICC thinks about other venues for India’s matches including the final.
Also Read: Mahmudullah Announces T20I Retirement After Series Against India
According to The Telegraph report, it says that though Lahore is the named final venue at this time, Dubai is under the influence of unofficial discussions as a secondary venue, in case India reaches the final. It would lead to an unprecedented situation when the venue for the final will be decided only on March 6, three days before the match. Preparations will have to be in place at two venues, confusing the teams, the officials, as well as the fans about which venue the game would be played at.
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY FINAL COULD BE IN DUBAI…!!!! 🏆
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 8, 2024
– Two venues could be prepared for the CT final as if India qualifies into the final then Dubai could host orelse Lahore will host the final. [The Telegraph] pic.twitter.com/l7WOYcJI3j
Apart from the last, if India reaches the semi-finals, that match also will be played outside of Pakistan. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah all have the necessary facilities to host games on short notice.
This is the first time, however, India is missing from a tournament held in Pakistan. The Asia Cup last year was to be held entirely in Pakistan but it was later divided between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where all of India’s matches were held.
The BCCI clarified that the Indian government takes a call to tour Pakistan. India has not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2012-13, but they are still to face each other in international competitions.
This year, India was assured of a play in the semi-final in Guyana, irrespective of whatever their earlier results were. If India were to adopt a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, then for them, a certainty of playing their semi-final and final match would come with a venue other than Pakistan, whereas all the other teams would have to live with uncertainty as far as the venue is concerned.
All of India’s group matches are to be played in Lahore, handily a mere two hours from the Indian border. The logic is easy logistics; unfortunately, travel curbs will force the Indian team to play all its games there – the much-awaited one against Pakistan, as well as games against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
The Champions Trophy might still take place in full in Pakistan, according to the tournament organizers. Recently, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed hope that India will also participate, saying, “The Indian team should come. We are confident we will host all teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.”.
It is going to be the first major international tournament to be hosted on Pakistani soil after 1996. It will be an important tournament for the country’s cricket profile as they will be entering this tournament as defending champions after defeating India in the final of the previous Champions Trophy two years back.
It will be the 11th successive group-stage encounter between India and Pakistan in an ICC men’s global event. Such a practice, given the predictability of such encounters, does not inspire confidence in sporting integrity.
Also Read: ICC Women’s T20I Rankings: Sophie Ecclestone Ends Sadia Iqbal’s Brief Reign As Top T20I Bowler!
