LAHORE
\nPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has ruled out the \u201chybrid model\u201d in case India refuses to send its team across the border for next year\u2019s ICC Champions Trophy.
\nAmid political tensions bet\u00adween the two neighbours, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has stood firm by the government\u2019s policy of not engaging with Pakistan in terms of bilateral cricket over the years.
\nHowever, after having played the last bilateral series against each other in 2012, Pakistan and India have competed in Inter\u00adnational Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments and the Asia Cup. Pakistan, in fact, visited India to feature in the ICC World Cup last year.
\nThe visit, if anything, heightened expectations of India returning the favour by touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, which is set to be held in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi from Feb 19 to March 9 next year.
\nIndia\u2019s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which the latter hosted last year, saw the PCB compromise by implementing the \u201chybrid model\u201d, which saw Rohit Sharma\u2019s side play its mat\u00adches in Sri Lanka, with only four matches of the tournament played in Pakistan, excluding the final.
\nThe model, Mohsin claimed, would not be an option this time around.
\n\u201cNo discussions have been held regarding a hybrid model as of today, and we are not ready to discuss such a model,\u201d Mr Naqvi told reporters here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, hours after Indian media had reported that Sharma and his men would not be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and that they wanted to play their matches at a neutral venue.
\nThe reports claimed that BCCI had communicated their decision to the PCB and other stakeholders, and that there was a bright possibility of some matches being played in Dubai.
\nThe rumour mill has been active since Pakistan were awarded the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy in 2021. However, in the past few months, reports suggesting India would stick to its years-long stance have been on the rise.
\n\u201cWell, for the past two months, reports have been coming out in the Indian media that the Indian team is not coming,\u201d Mr Naqvi noted against the backdrop of an under-construction site at the Gaddafi Stadium, undergoing renovation in order to be prepared for the Champions Trophy.
\nThe PCB chief, who is also the country\u2019s interior minister, said the board valued a \u201cwritten\u201d communication by the ICC or the BCCI over speculations on the media.
\n\u201cLast night, when I saw this news, I discussed it with the team,\u201d added the PCB chief. \u201cWe are very clear on this stance: if anything like this happens, we will need it in writing. It will be acceptable to us only if we receive something in writing.
\n\u201cAs far as Indian media is concerned, if they are reporting it, there must be a letter from the ICC or the Indian Board regarding this, but to date, neither I nor PCB have received any such letter.\u201d
\nWhile Mr Naqvi spoke on behalf of the PCB, he suggested that in case of India\u2019s refusal to travel to Pakistan, the matter could be moved to the government\u2019s jurisdiction.
\n\u201cIf something like this happens, and if there is such a situation, we will need to discuss it with our government,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever the government decides, I will have to act on it.
\n\u201cPakistan has been showing good gestures in recent years, but people shouldn\u2019t expect us to keep doing that.\u201d
\nAccording to several reports, the ICC is set to announce the Champions Trophy schedule on November 11 but Indian media said it remained to be seen how much time the global cricket body would need to make the necessary amendments.
\nA day earlier, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that the PCB was willing to make \u201cadjustments\u201d in the Champions Trophy schedule.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has ruled out the \u201chybrid model\u201d in case India refuses to send its team across the border for next year\u2019s ICC Champions Trophy. Amid political tensions bet\u00adween the two neighbours, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has stood firm by the government\u2019s policy of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":439352,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-442608","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n