KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Another bouncer has been averted in the rollercoaster ride of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament which will be held jointly in Pakistan and the UAE. Plans to have an opening ceremony and a captain’s photo shoot have been scrapped altogether, according to a report in Telecom Asia Sport.
The world body International Cricket Council (ICC) does not have a record of holding an opening ceremony for even a major tournament such as the Champions Trophy, which will see the group matches of India this year hosted in Dubai as a consequence of their bitter bilateral relations with neighbouring country Pakistan.
Now the sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board, according to the report, have confirmed the plans to mark the opening for their first major ICC tournament in 29 years have been shelved. “Initially there were plans, but the ceremony was never announced either by the ICC or the PCB,” said sources.
Once Pakistan agreed to host the event on a hybrid model on India’s refusal to be part of the tournament, more mini crises have been simmering. The planned photo shoot would have meant India’s captain Rohit Sharma would have to travel to Pakistan, thus defeating the Indian government’s stand, and then head to Dubai at short notice because India plays Bangladesh on February 20, a day after the tournament’s opener.
On the other hand, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is racing against time to fully host the matches because a renovation drive is well behind schedule. While the pitch conditions are okay, it will be a miracle to have the stands ready.
The Telecom Asia report further added the source as saying the availability of all the captains from eight teams was doubtful. England will reach Lahore on February 18, four days after playing a series in India while Australia will arrive after finishing their series against Sri Lanka on February 14.
Both the sides are part of the four-team Group B. India and Pakistan are part of Group A and clash in Dubai on February 23. Since the timely arrival of captains of England and Australia was in doubt, the photo shoot was always a tall order.
Reacting to the development in the same report, former Pakistan off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed said with still some hope: “Not having an opening ceremony with all teams and captains has deprived millions of fans here. Pakistan is staging an event after a long time and there is an emotional side to it. Cricket community should have contributed to the opening ceremony. If it is done without India, let it happen.”