The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eagerly anticipating the hosting of the Champions Trophy next year, as an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to visit the country on March 25 to assess the ongoing preparations for the prestigious tournament. The delegation, which will include a security expert, will inspect all proposed venues, with particular emphasis on Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
Pakistan has the opportunity to host an ICC event for the first time since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India. “The delegation will be given briefings on the preparations. They will visit the venues in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi to see the upgradation work we will be carrying out for the Champions Trophy,” stated Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday.
Last month, a delegation from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) also visited Pakistan to evaluate security and other arrangements for their team’s tour to the country in mid-April for five T20 Internationals. Naqvi reiterated that the Champions Trophy would be held as scheduled in Pakistan.
When asked if Pakistan would consider a tit-for-tat response if the Indian government refused to send its team to Pakistan, Naqvi responded, “why are we even discussing such possibilities?” He added, “We had a good meeting in Dubai on the tournament and its technical side and as far as we are concerned we see no reason the event would not be held in Pakistan so why even discuss other scenarios.”
India had declined to send its team for the Asia Cup last year in August, resulting in several matches being relocated to Sri Lanka.
