India has thrown a wrench into the ICC Champions Trophy tournament slated to be played in Pakistan in February.
The competition is considered the second most exciting and lucrative league behind the World Cup as it involves the top eight Test nations.
India’s Cricket Board has notified both the International Cricket Council, the governing body of the game, and the Pakistan Cricket Board that “it will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.”
There was no explanation given and, for anyone involved in the sport, this decision does nor require any elaboration.
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The two warring neighbours cut off bilateral ties since 2008 when Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s squad visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Pakistan, meanwhile, toured India for a bilateral white-ball series in 2012-13, the World Twenty20 World Cup in 2016 and the 50-over World Cup last year.
The animosity between the neighbours started as far back as 1947, when the Radcliffe Line was drawn to establish the two independent countries.
In the aftermath of the line drawn by an Englishman, Sir Cyril Radcliffe — who incidentally had never visited the sub-continent — tensions have festered and they have gone to war on four occasions (1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999).
The only time these two cricket-mad countries have met internationally in recent years are in ICC-run tournaments.
Previous to cricket being embraced as the national sport by the two nations in 1983, it was field hockey that was synonymous with sporting glory. I was fortunate enough to suit up for Kenya’s second-string squad against these two giants who then ruled the field.
One of the beneficiaries of this conflict between the neighbours was Canada. The two faced against each other for the Sahara Cup between 1996 and 1999 before huge crowds at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
Players on both teams are good friends, but that’s about where it ends as India has remained steadfast in its refusal to cross the border. If it was in the hands of the players, they would straddle the border even in a cart, but it’s a decision taken by the Government of India.
To break the Champions Trophy deadlock, India suggested a hybrid model that would allow it to play in a neutral venue like the United Arab Republic, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has turned down this request. He wanted to know what happens if the two countries meet in the semis or the final. Would the contest take place in the desert?
In the past, India always has had the final say as the ICC and the rest of the cricketing world depends on cash-rich India for its future.
In fact, it rakes in millions from the money-spinning Indian Premier League that attracts the cream of the world. But no Pakistani players are allowed to participate.
India rules the ICC even though it won’t admit it. To add to Pakistan’s woes and that of the Champions Trophy is that the success of the tournament is tied to India’s participation.
No India. No big dollars.
Will Naqvi, who happens to be the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government, bend over and give in to India? At the moment he isn’t budging.
There is a political twist to this entire scenario. On Dec. 1, India will have its own Jay Shah, who will assume the chairmanship of the ICC. He happens to be the son of Amit Shah, India’s Home Minister, who has made headlines in Canada in the past few weeks.
Interestingly, Naqvi, with the government behind him, has mentioned if this tournament doesn’t go ahead as planned, Pakistan will not play in future ICC tournaments. If that happens, ICC’s pocket book will take a massive hit as the India-Pakistan clash brings in millions.
Meanwhile, the ICC may be working feverishly behind the curtains to make sure this tournament isn’t scuttled, as it would lose face in front of the sporting world. England’s chief executive says there is no way this tournament can take place without India or Pakistan.
“If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there and we need to protect them,” he said.
It is possible that since India wields such a big clout, you will hear in the next few days that the ICC has moved the tournament from Pakistan to the U.A.E. or possibly even South Africa.
That will be a shame as Pakistan has spent millions renovating three stadiums for this extravaganza.
AUSSIES STUNNED
Two weeks ago, New Zealand stunned India to complete a 3-0 Test whitewash after 36 years on Indian soil.
Now, it was Pakistan’s turn to pull off a similar shock. Pakistan thrashed Australia by eight wickets to claim its first one-day series win Down Under in 22 years.
Aussie captain Pat Cummins was red-faced following this unexpected turn of events as it comes a couple of weeks before his squad faces India.
Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi took three for 32 and Naseem Shah three for 54 to bundle Australia out for only 140 in Perth.
The visitors cruised home with 23 overs to spare with Saim Ayub leading the way with 42, Abdullah Shafique’s 37 and an unbeaten 30 from skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
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