Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The Emirates Cricket Board and Dubai is stepping in again as a neutral venue and an alternative for the beleaguered Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are due to host the Champions Trophy in February next year. A formal announcement is expected from PCB on Friday, according to sources close to Aletihad.
Pakistan's hosting rights in recent times have been clouded with India, the richest powerhouse in the cricket world, refusing to travel just like they did for the Asia Cup last year. After a lot of heartburn and talks between the two boards, a hybrid model has once again been opted for, with minor details still to work out.
The world governing body, the International Cricket Council, released a short update on Thursday, confirming what has been the core of an extended period of speculation while time is running out to organise one of the major cricket tournaments on the world calendar.
Ideally, the ICC and the broadcasters that fund a tournament's existence prefer a 100-day window and announce the schedule, but Thursday's update from the ICC again fell short of committing to a schedule with 60 days left to the February 19 start date as originally envisaged.
The ICC statement said that it has been "approved that matches between India and Pakistan played at ICC events during the current rights cycle from 2024 to 2027 [which are to be hosted in India or Pakistan] will be played at a neutral venue proposed by the tournament host. This will apply to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka).
"In addition, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply," the release said.
India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads because of an acrimonious past. The stalemate this time has prolonged with the PCB refusing to accept the hybrid model initially and then suggesting that they have a template solution based on a more equal treatment for such situations even in the future.
As part of the templated approach, for the past week, boards of UAE, Sri Lanka and even South Africa have been actively pursuing if any commitments can be agreed upon as alternates acceptable to both India and Pakistan.
While Sri Lanka remains an option, it will likely come into play when India hosts the Women's World Cup. In the immediate discourse, the Indian board (BCCI) briefly flirted with its desire to go to South Africa, but ultimately seem to made a compromise on Dubai.
Of all the grounds in the UAE, Dubai has the largest capacity of 25,000 which means the gate revenue lost by either boards in the future can be most offset while the mixed subcontinental expatriate population levels out the home advantage. The UAE also remains a closer stop for travel and logistical reasons.
With ash anna retiring let's relive his final over masterclass against england in champions trophy 2013 final
— MSDFIED (@MSDFIED07) December 18, 2024
Part 1 pic.twitter.com/BRSj0KQRnU
The latter is the closest factor to solving the issues a hybrid model brings in case the 2013 Champions Trophy winners India qualify for the knockout stages. While the prospect of India playing a semi-final or final in Pakistan is still being deliberated, players such as Pakistan left-arm bowler Mohammad Amir have already expressed their disappointment at what it will entail.
Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Amir said: "Had they [Indians] come to Pakistan, they would have realised their popularity in our country. Fans wanted to see Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. I would have also toured India so I know how much love I got from the fans and players there," said Amir who got a bat gifted by Kohli during a 2023 T20 World Cup match held in Kolkata, India."
