PCB sources said the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved at the recent ICC meeting in Colombo but the schedule and format were not discussed at all.
“The PCB has done everything that was required of them as the organisers of the Champions Trophy. They have submitted a draft schedule and format for the tournament and have also submitted a budget for the tournament,” a PCB official said.
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“It is up to the ICC to circulate, discuss and finalise how quickly the schedule for the Champions Trophy will be decided. The PCB, in its proposed schedule, has proposed to host all India’s matches in Lahore, including the semi-finals (if India qualify) and the final,” he said.
Another source said the PCB has already submitted full details of its expression of interest letter to the ICC to host the Champions Trophy.
“The PCB has written to the ICC regarding the tax formalities, venue selection and government approvals for the Indian team to be in Pakistan for this mega event,” he added.
The PCB had initially expressed interest in hosting the event in 2021 when Ehsan Mani was its chairman.
The ICC awarded the hosting rights in 2022 and subsequently, when Ramiz Raja was the PCB chairman, the board submitted the final document of the hosting agreement to be signed with the ICC.
Sources said that while PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not have a formal meeting with BCCI secretary general Jay Shah or any other BCCI officials on the sidelines of the ICC meeting, his interaction with Shah during the meeting was cordial.
The PCB now leaves two things up to the ICC – to finalise and announce the schedule for the tournament and also to get confirmation from the BCCI whether the Indian team will tour Pakistan.
The ICC has budgeted extra funds for the tournament in case the Indian team has to play matches outside Pakistan.
The BCCI has always been adamant that playing cricket in Pakistan is entirely a government decision and even in the 2023 ODI Asia Cup organised by the PCB, India played all their matches in Sri Lanka on a “hybrid model”.
As per the draft schedule, all of India’s matches, including the semi-finals and final, are scheduled to be played in Lahore. The highlight match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for March 1.
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