The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to convene this week to decide the fate of next year's Champions Trophy, following India's refusal to participate in the tournament hosted by Pakistan, according to a spokesman.
Earlier this month, the ICC notified the Pakistan Cricket Board that India would not be touring Pakistan for the eight-team competition, casting uncertainty over the event's future. The two nuclear-armed nations, who have been at odds since their partition in 1947, have a history of conflict that often spills over into their cricketing rivalry.
An ICC spokesman based in Dubai confirmed to AFP that a meeting will take place on Friday, where the issue will be discussed, though no further details were provided. The PCB has already dismissed suggestions that India could play in a neutral third country, insisting that the entire schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be held in Pakistan.
India's cricket board has remained silent on the matter. The strained political relations between the two countries have resulted in no bilateral cricket series being played for over a decade, with their encounters limited to ICC-organized multi-nation events. Pakistan faced a lengthy period without hosting international matches after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, with international cricket only fully returning in 2020.
When Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year, India's matches were held outside the country. However, Pakistani cricket officials have dismissed security concerns for the Champions Trophy, citing the successful hosting of major teams including Australia, England, and South Africa. The Champions Trophy will mark the first ICC event in Pakistan since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
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