The fate of the upcoming Champions Trophy still remains uncertain – as it has been for some time – with India refusing to travel to Pakistan for the tournament and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday making a request to the International Cricket Council (ICC), India Cricket For clarification on the Board of Control (BCCI)’s refusal to send its team across the border.

“The PCB has responded to last week’s ICC letter seeking clarification on the Indian Board’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy,” Sami-Ul-Hasan told AFP. he said.

This marks yet another example of politics interfering with cricket between these two nuclear-armed countries. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series in over a decade; It is contested only in the ICC’s multinational events.

India last visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

The neighboring countries have fought three wars since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, and this rivalry often spills over onto the cricket field.

The cricket match between the two is among the most watched events on the global sports calendar.

Pakistani media reported on Tuesday that the PCB would be reluctant to accept security reasons for India’s refusal to visit.

New Zealand have toured Pakistan three times in the last two years; England visited twice and Australia once during the same period.

Pakistan also visited India for last year’s ODI World Cup and the PCB expected the gesture to be reciprocated for the Champions Trophy.

Last year’s Asia Cup, held in Pakistan, was held under a hybrid model with India playing its matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played from February 19 to March 9 next year at three venues – Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

However, the final schedule to be announced this week was postponed due to the infighting, which PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi described as disappointing.

“Almost every country wants the tournament to be played in Pakistan and it would be a disappointment if they don’t come,” Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, said last week.

“I don’t think anyone should make this a political issue. We will provide as much facilities as we can to every team.”

Naqvi had earlier ruled out the possibility of a hybrid event where India would play its matches at neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, with the BCCI, which has huge influence in the ICC, unwilling to tour Pakistan, cricket’s governing body will likely have to find a solution that will satisfy both parties, especially since the involvement of these two arch-rivals provides the most lucrative broadcast deal. .

However, unless a permanent solution is found to the problem, it is inevitable to prevent such chaos before major events; as Naqvi had earlier stated that Pakistan would consider withdrawing from future events in India in reaction to BCCI’s current stance.

“Pakistan had made grand gestures to India in the past and we would like to make it clear that India should not expect such friendly gestures from us all the time.”

India will host the women’s ODI World Cup and Asia Cup next year and will co-host the Twenty20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026.