Skip to main content

"Cricket Should Win": PCB Softens Tone On India-Pak Champions Trophy Row

Backing down from its boycott threat, the Pakistan Cricket Board has told the ICC that it is willing to accept the 'Hybrid' model for hosting next year's Champions Trophy provided the world body allows the same arrangement for events to be held in India till 2031. What was divulged by a PCB source in Karachi was all but confirmed by its chief Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai hours later. The tournament is scheduled to be held in February-March and India have refused to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns. "I don't want to comment too much because that can ruin things. We have given our point of view (to the ICC), the Indians have also given theirs. The effort is to ensure a win-win for all," Naqvi told reporters. "Cricket should win, that's most important but with respect for all. We are going to do what's best for cricket. Whichever formula we go for, it would be on equal terms," he added.

"Pakistan's pride is most important. We have to ensure that cricket wins but Pakistan's pride also remains intact." The latest proposal is a climbdown from the PCB, which had earlier threatened to boycott the tournament if its hosting rights were not granted in full and India's demand for a neutral venue was accepted.

When asked whether Pakistan has agreed to the arrangement now, Naqvi's response was, "Let's see what happens." "My effort is to ensure that there is no one-sided system. It shouldn't be that we travel to India and they don't come to our country. Idea is to settle it once and for all on equal terms." In Karachi, a PCB source said the Board is also demanding a greater share in the annual revenue cycle for agreeing to the model under which India would be playing its share of matches, including the clash against Pakistan, in Dubai.

"The current situation is that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that it will only accept hosting the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model if the board agrees that in future all ICC events will be on same system with Pakistan not going to India to play matches," the source told PTI.

"Pakistan also wants the ICC board to increase its financial cycle share of revenues from 5.75 percent and Naqvi is insistent on this but he has not sought any additional hosting fees," he added.

Till 2031, India are due to host three ICC men's events -- the 2026 T20 World Cup jointly with Sri Lanka, the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup jointly with Bangladesh.

Given that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are co-hosts for two major events, Pakistan would not be compelled to travel to India if they insist against it. The point of contention could be just the 2029 Champions Trophy, which will be held entirely in India.

Another flash-point could be next year's women's ODI World Cup in October, also to be held in India.

The state of flux surrounding next year's Champions Trophy is now expected to be resolved in the next couple of days after the ICC executive board considers Pakistan's latest demands.

The ICC Board met briefly to find a solution on Friday but no agreement could be reached.

The world body eventually told PCB to either accept the hybrid model or be prepared to be excluded from the tournament after Naqvi reiterated the unyielding position of his country.

The impasse has led to a delay in the announcement of the schedule for the tournament.

Naqvi, who is also the interior minister in his country, faces the prospect of a public backlash if PCB is seen to be backing down without any tangible gains.

Earlier in the day, he met Emirates Cricket Board head Mubashir Usmani in Dubai, conveying that Pakistan was ready to host the Champions Trophy and all the preparations were on schedule.

The PCB source though rejected speculation that the Board would get a bonus of USD 20 million besides the hosting fees of USD six million for the Champions Trophy for conceding to India's demands.

"Pakistan has taken only one stance and that is in future, it will also not play in India in any ICC events and the Hybrid model should be applied for all future ICC events that Pakistan and India will play their games at neutral venues," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



from NDTV Sports-Cricket
https://ift.tt/dnI25RX

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

विद्यालय परिसर में झूल रहे विद्युत तार, विद्यार्थियों को खतरा

सरणू चिमनजी. सरणू चिमनजी ग्राम पंचायत मुख्यालय पर स्थित राउमावि के भवन, खेल मैदान तथा शौचालय के ऊपर से गुजर रही 11 केवी विद्युत लाइन ढीली होने के कारण भवन तथा शौचालय पर लगी पानी की टंकी से टकरा रही है, ऐसे में हादसे की आशंका सता रही है। विद्यालय के वरिष्ठ अध्यापक हनुमानराम सऊ ने बताया कि कई बार लिखित में तथा यहां आयोजित कलक्टर की रात्रि चौपाल में भी इस मामले को डिस्कॉम अधिकारियों को अवगत करवाया। कलक्टर ने अधिकारियों को लाइन को विद्यालय परिसर से बाहर लगाने को कहा, लेकिन 1साल बीत जाने के बाद भी विद्युत विभाग ने सुध नहीं ली। हर बार आश्वासन ही मिला कि करवा दिया जाएगा।वर्तमान स्थिति यह है कि तार विद्यालय परिसर के ऊपर शौचालय पर लगी टंकी कोपर्श कर रहे हैं, इस वजह से बच्चों को आसपास जाने नहीं दिया जाता। कार्यवाहक प्रधानाचार्य पूनमचंद चौधरी ने बताया कि विद्यालय के मुख्य परिसर से गुजरने वाली 11 केवी बिजली लाइन लूज होने से हर समय खतरा बना रहता है। फिलहाल विद्यार्थियों की नियमित कक्षाएं संचालित हो रही है जिससे हर समय खतरा बना रहता है। हमने पहले भी लिखित जानकारी देकर अवगत कराया लेकिन आज तक इस ...

Sanju Samson's Act Minutes After T20 World Cup Selection Wins Hearts

April 8, 2008. Sanju Samson, then a skinny 14-year-old, curled on the bed in his hotel room, watched Kolkata Knight Riders' Brendon McCullum hammering a 73-ball 158 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first-ever IPL match. That drizzly evening in Kottayam, a town in central Kerala, changed his heart. Forever. Sanju reshuffled his career dream, from wanting to become a civil servant to entering the elite world of a top-flight cricketer. "Sanju always recollects that day, which gave him the dream of reaching that league of top players one day," said former Kerala player Raiphi Vincent Gomez, also a close friend of the wicketkeeper batter. But merely having a dream will not take anyone to the top of their profession, more so in sports. Sanju then had oodles of determination too to walk down his chosen path. Biju George, the former India women's cricket team's fielding coach and the early mentor of the Kerala player, saw that brightly flickering flame inside...

"Finals Are Funny Games": Molineux On Match-Winning Spell In WPL Final

Following her side's maiden Women's Premier League (WPL) title win, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowling all-rounder Sophie Molineux remarked that the title clashes are always "funny games" and the team knew that the match was going down the wire. An all-round Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) led by yet another solid knock by Ellyse Perry and brilliant bowling spells from spinners Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux captured their first-ever Women's Premier League (WPL) title after defeating Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the title clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Molineux received the 'Player of the Match' award for her bowling effort that put DC on the backfoot after a fiery start. "It was a great match. Finals are always funny games, we knew it was going down to the wire. DC are a great team, they fought all the way. Pretty happy we got over the line. I felt like I was bowing really slow tonight. In tournaments, you have to keep...