After India declined to visit Pakistan, the host country for the Champions Trophy next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday that negotiations were still ongoing to resolve any remaining issues, sources told AFP.
Since the ICC announced earlier this month that India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the eight-team competition, the event’s future has been in doubt.
Since the subcontinent was divided in 1947, the nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars, and the antagonism between them is frequently seen on the cricket pitch.
According to multiple people with knowledge of the discussions who were not authorized to speak to the media, the ICC, which has its headquarters in Dubai, convened a brief meeting on Friday but adjourned without reaching a decision.
One source stated that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days” and that “all parties continue to work towards a positive resolution.”
Proposals to allow India to play in a neutral third country have previously been rejected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which maintains that the entire schedule from February 19 to March 9 must take place on their soil.
The “Pakistani stance remains the same” after today’s short meeting, according to another source.
During today’s meeting, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi promised that the board would safeguard Pakistani cricket’s best interests.
Without giving any further information, a spokesperson told AFP on Tuesday that they could “confirm an ICC meeting on Friday” when the matter would be discussed.
The competition, which will take place from February 19 to March 9, will be hosted by Pakistan, the winners of the most recent Champions Trophy, which was held in England in 2017.
India hasn’t been to Pakistan since 2008 because of their strained political ties, and the adversaries only play each other in multi-team competitions.
Last year, the Asia Cup was held in Pakistan as well, but the winners, India, played all of their matches in Sri Lanka using a “hybrid model,” according to the organizers.
Since Pakistan co-hosted the 1996 World Cup alongside India and Sri Lanka, the Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event held in Pakistan.
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