NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set the team’s highlight match, the Champions Trophy, against arch rivals India in Lahore on March 1 next year but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to agree on the provisional schedule, a senior ICC director said on Wednesday.
The tournament will run from February 19th to March 9th, with March 10th as a reserve day.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who has been invited to watch the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, is believed to have tabled a 15-match schedule in which all India matches would be held in Lahore for safety and logistical reasons.
“The PCB has submitted a draft plan for the ICC Champions Trophy with 15 matches — seven in Lahore, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi,” the ICC director said.
“The opening match will be played in Karachi, the semi-finals will be between Karachi and Rawalpindi and the final will be in Lahore. All the Indian team’s matches (including the semi-finals if the team qualify) will be played in Lahore,” the source added.
India have been drawn with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A. Group B comprises Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan.
ICC head of events Chris Tetley met PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad recently after the organisation’s security team inspected the venue and other preparations.
The last tournament Pakistan hosted was the Asia Cup in 2023, which was played under a “hybrid model” with India playing the match in Sri Lanka after the government did not allow players to travel across the border.
“All the chairpersons of the ICC Champions Trophy participating countries (except BCCI) have assured him of their full support, while BCCI will consult with their governments and report back to the ICC,” the source added.
It will be interesting to see when the BCCI takes a final decision on the matter as the ICC cannot force any committee to go against the government’s policy.
