The fate of next year’s Champions Trophy is still up in the air as the International Cricket Council (ICC) continues discussions over the event’s location. Sources confirmed to AFP that talks are ongoing after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
The issue arose earlier this month when India declined to participate in the eight-team tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan. The two countries, who have a long-standing political rivalry and have fought three wars since their partition in 1947, often see their tensions spill over onto the cricket field.
The ICC held a brief meeting on Friday, but no decision was made. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the talks were adjourned, with expectations that the board would reconvene in the coming days to work towards a resolution.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly rejected proposals for India to play in a neutral venue, insisting that the entire tournament, from February 19 to March 9, must be held in Pakistan. According to one source, Pakistan’s position remains unchanged after Friday’s meeting.
