PCB denies receiving communication from BCCI regarding ‘Hybrid Model’ of Champions Trophy and is confident Pakistan will host all games – Firstpost

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) insisted they were not aware of any last-minute changes to plans for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, amid reports of
India will play their matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and remained confident that the entire tournament would take place in Pakistan.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that the board had not yet received any official communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s travel plans for the 50-over ICC event to be hosted by defending champions Pakistan in February and March.

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“We have a clear stand that if they (BCCI) have any problems, they should give it to us in writing. To this day, we have not talked about any hybrid model, but we are ready to talk about it,” Naqvi told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. Dawn.

“If the Indian media is reporting this, then there must be a letter that the ICC will give us, otherwise the Indian Council may have written this somewhere. So far, not a single letter has reached me or the PCB,” Naqvi added.

‘We want cricket to be devoid of politics’: Naqvi

The PCB chief insisted that cricket should be “devoid of politics”, with India having refused to travel to Pakistan since 2008 or play a bilateral series against them since 2012 due to cross-border terrorism and political tensions.

“We want cricket to be devoid of politics. No sport in the world should have this kind of politics.

“We will continue with the preparations for the Champions Trophy that you are currently seeing, and God willing, it will be a successful event,” Naqvi told the press at PCB headquarters.

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According to The Indian Expressthe BCCI has already written to the PCB expressing India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and asking for their matches to be shifted to Dubai. And according to news agency Press Trust of IndiaPCB is close to agreeing on “minor adjustments” to the fixture list – which in this context refers to India playing its matches in the Gulf instead of its neighboring country.

If India’s matches are indeed moved to the UAE, it will be a repeat of last year’s Asia Cup, which was supposed to be held entirely in Pakistan, but under a ‘hybrid model’ – with the majority of matches being played played. , including India’s matches and the final, took place in Sri Lanka, while some group matches were hosted in Pakistan.

‘Every country wants the Champions Trophy to take place here’

PCB chief Naqvi acknowledged the fact that Pakistan had shown “good gestures” in recent years but hoped that they would not be expected to perform a similar act of courtesy for the Champions Trophy, which is returning after a gap of eight years takes action.

“In recent years, Pakistan has continued to show good gestures, and we hope that we are not expected to make good gestures every time.

“As far as I know, every country wants the Champions Trophy to take place here. I am in contact with various boards and several members have expressed the wish to come and play in Pakistan.

“I hope that, God willing, everyone will be patient and level-headed and play the tournament where it happens,” Naqvi added.