LAHORE: On Monday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) held its Board and Annual General Meeting in Colombo. Notably, there was no debate about the ICC Champions Trophy for the next year.
An ICC representative explained to Dawn that no such matters were raised, despite rumors in some sectors of the Pakistani media that the meeting would approve the Champions Trophy budget, which Pakistan will host the next year.
When Dawn asked the official for comment, he said, “Champions Trophy was not on the agenda, and we do not comment on commercial or budgetary matters.”
Under the sponsorship of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Champions Trophy is scheduled to return to Pakistan in February or March of the following year. However, there are some doubts regarding India’s possible participation. Anxieties between the adjacent nations have clouded India’s participation in the competition.
The 2009 Champions Trophy had been given to Pakistan, but the ICC moved the competition to South Africa because to security concerns. According to reports, Afghanistan may now reevaluate its involvement as well, mirroring India’s position.
The PCB, adamant about holding the full competition in India, has turned down proposals for a hybrid format similar to the 2023 Asia Cup, whose matches were moved to Sri Lanka last year for to security issues.
Dawn was informed by informed sources that the Indian team’s decision to withdraw from the event will have a significant financial impact on the Indian ICC.
The stakes are high because over 90% of the ICC’s revenue comes from India’s sizable cricket market.
If, like in 2009, India declines to participate and the PCB insists on hosting rights in Pakistan, there may once more be a need for cash compensations to break the impasse, according to insiders.
Following Monday’s sessions, the ICC also released a press statement stating that the organization had chosen to examine how the recently concluded T20 World Cup was handled in the United States and the West Indies.
Several sources have indicated that significant expenses were incurred for the event, and the event’s quality was also diminished.
The announcement stated, “The ICC Board confirmed that there will be a review into the delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.” “Imran Khwaja, Lawson Naidoo, and Roger Twose, the three directors, will be in charge of this and will report to the Board later in the year.”
The international governing body of the game announced that it has officially placed the US and Chilean cricket boards “on notice” and that both nations have
“They have 12 months to address their current failure to comply with the ICC Membership Criteria.”
The ICC said that “none of the Members is thought to have in place a fit for purpose detailed governance and administrative structure and systems.” “Cricket Chile will receive assistance from the ICC Americas headquarters in addressing their non-compliance.
The ICC Board has the authority to suspend or expel a member for persistent non-compliance, and the Board decided that a Normalization Committee made up of Board and Management representatives will be established to supervise and track USA Cricket’s compliance plan.
The Women’s T20 World Cup will have 16 teams instead of 12 in 2030, according to confirmation from the ICC.
