ECB urges India to ensure participation in Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) fully backed Pakistan’s resolve to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, urging India to ensure its participation in the mega event in the best interest of the game.

ECB Chairman Richard Thompson and CEO Richard Gould while talking to a group of journalists in Multan Wednesday confirmed an all-out support for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) efforts to hold the Champions Trophy in a befitting manner.

“It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy,” Thompson said. “It’s interesting, with Jay Shah -- the former secretary of the BCCI and now chair of the ICC -- is going to have a big role to play in that. There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. I think they’ll find a way. They have to find a way.”

Jay Shah, as the newly elected ICC chairman will be facing extra pressure from all corners to play his role in mega event success. Shah will take over the ICC rein on December 1 at a time when the BCCI will be at the cusp of making a decision on sending the team to Pakistan.

BCCI was part of the decision-making process when the Champions Trophy was allotted to Pakistan in 2021. The ECB officials believe that the security issues should not be made as an excuse as both countries are enjoying relatively better relations these days.

Indian Foreign Minister Jay Shankar has just left Pakistan after participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Conference with both countries regularly playing against each other in other sports. Under the strict guidelines of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Indian Davis Cup team also visited Pakistan to figure in the tie.

“There are always security concerns in this part of the world when those two countries play each other. That will probably drive the key decisions. But I know relationships between the two countries are as amicable as they can be at the moment: we saw it play out at the World Cup T20 in New York.”

Richard Gould and Richard’s Thompson are in Pakistan ahead of upcoming ICC meetings in Dubai and have been meeting PCB officials in Multan during England’s second Test match. Gould said that cricket’s dependence on broadcast rights as a revenue stream ensured both India and Pakistan would feature. “If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we need to protect them,” he said.

“Pakistan are the host nation. We’ve seen the developments going on, and we’re all waiting to understand whether India are going to travel. That’s the key. We think there are some discussions and relationships where they need to be. I know Pakistan are expecting India to travel. There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn’t happen.”

Both the officials praised the PCB’s efforts to provide the best facilities to guests and travelers expected to throng Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. “The PCB is making real headways on all fronts ensuring the smooth hosting of the Champions Trophy. All nations must support and back Pakistan to make the event successful.”

The PCB also reiterated its resolve to host the entire Trophy in a befitting manner. “The PCB remains committed to hosting the entire ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.” a PCB spokesman said.