With the Champions Trophy over deadlocked, former Pakistan player Javed Miandad praised the Pakistan Cricket Board for its firm stand in not agreeing to play in India unless the Men in Blue come to Pakistan.
It has decided that India will play all its Champions Trophy matches at neutral venues next year, while Pakistan will also play all its matches at neutral venues in ICC tournaments hosted by India until the end of the ongoing cycle in 2027.
In addition to the aforementioned Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan, the arrangement will apply to the Women’s Cricket World Cup in India next year and the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
“I think the PCB took a sensible approach and instead of facing isolation from the ICC and other cricketing nations, I think the PCB has earned more than the BCCI,” Miandad said.
“Still Pakistan is hosting a big event after a long time and we have sent a clear message that if you don’t come and play in our country, we won’t play in India either,” Miandad said.
India had asked Pakistan not to go to the tournament citing security reasons. Pakistan had asked for written reasons, arguing that every other major cricket team has visited the country in the last few years and there were no security concerns.
Last month, Pakistan cited a letter circulated by the ICC board among its members in October, which stated that no country had objected to the Champions Trophy itinerary. However, within a fortnight of that letter, the BCCI informed the ICC about its reservations on the Pakistan tour.
India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Last year, Pakistan came to India to play the 50-over World Cup, while India played the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Amid strained relations, the two countries have not hosted bilateral series since 2013, playing only in multi-team events.
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