In a major update, India and Pakistan have agreed to avoid hosting tournaments in each other’s countries.
However, India has raised objections to a proposal that would have both teams play their future matches, including the Champions Trophy, in Dubai if they qualify.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made its position clear, stating that if India refuses to send its team for matches in Pakistan, then Pakistan should not be expected to participate in any future finals in India either.
The PCB has proposed that all major finals in the coming years should be held at neutral venues, particularly in Dubai.
In recent meetings in Dubai, PCB officials discussed this proposal with top ICC officials. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also held a video call with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah to advocate for a “partnership or foreign formula,” under which both countries’ teams would play ICC events in a third country, mainly Dubai, for the next three years.
The proposal aims to ease tensions between the two boards, with Pakistan hosting one event and India hosting three over the next three years. The PCB has insisted that if India’s team chooses not to visit Pakistan, Pakistan’s team should not be expected to travel for events in India either. The issue, according to the PCB, is about long-term fairness.
This ongoing diplomatic deadlock has left both boards at an impasse, with no clear solution in sight, and the ICC yet to make an official decision.