MMFzone Cricsphere: The Ultimate Hub for Cricket and Pakistan Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy

Monday, November 18, 2024

ICC Champions Trophy - Controversy in trophy tour

It is an ICC event, so why is PCB following
dictations when none follows their dictation?

The ICC's Champions Trophy tour will begin on Saturday from Islamabad, Pakistan, but will exclude Muzaffarabad from its initial leg due to objections raised by the BCCI. The removal of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, sends a harmful message to those living in these areas, implying they are not worthy of recognition. These regions deserve the same acknowledgement as major cities like Karachi. Furthermore, the PCB missed a crucial opportunity by failing to include Peshawar and Quetta in the tour. These cities are just as integral to Pakistan, and promoting tourism there should have been a priority, rather than focusing solely on a few selective venues.

This objection caused delays in finalizing a new route, raising concerns about the tour's potential postponement. The PCB announced the tour's launch and route on social media on Thursday, catching the ICC off guard. As an ICC event, protocol dictates that the global body announces such details.

However, an alternative route was finalized late on Friday, allowing the tour to begin as originally planned and announced by the PCB. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will accompany the trophy on the first day as it is displayed at iconic landmarks in Islamabad, including Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument.

From Islamabad, the trophy will visit schools, colleges, and landmarks in Abbottabad, Murree, and Karachi in the opening leg before embarking on an international tour to the seven other countries participating in the Champions Trophy.

The trophy will return to Pakistan on January 27, three weeks before the tournament's scheduled start, for another tour of venues across Pakistan.

With less than 100 days remaining until the tournament, it is unacceptable that there is still uncertainty about how much of the event will be held in Pakistan. I have been vocal in condemning this decision because it will undoubtedly tarnish Pakistan's image, while India will take every opportunity to undermine us. We must focus on the broader implications rather than getting caught up in short-term thinking. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that its government will not allow the team to play in Pakistan, proposing a hybrid model where India plays its matches elsewhere. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must stand firm and reject this notion; the entire tournament must and should be held in Pakistan only.

The PCB has written to the ICC, demanding that the BCCI provide written reasons for its refusal to visit and clarify when the ICC was informed of the BCCI's decision.

It is unacceptable for the PCB to allow foreign entities to dictate terms that compromise Pakistan's interests. The PCB must assert its authority and prioritize national interests over external pressures.