Shahid Afridi has blamed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for mixing politics with sports for their Champions Trophy stance and called for ICC to ‘uphold fairness and assert their authority.’
The former Pakistan captain has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not accepting the hybrid model.
The ICC board meeting is set to take place on Friday as the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament and PCB is reluctant to host the entire tournament in Pakistan, which makes the Champions Trophy uncertain.
Afridi added that Pakistan has travelled to India five times since 2008. “By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position.”
“Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball series, post-26/11.”
“It’s time for the ICC and its Board of Directors to uphold fairness and assert their authority,” Afridi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
BCCI has made proposal for conducting champions trophy in hybrid model. They rejected to travel to pakistan citing security reasons. The PCB firm on hosting the event in Pakistan and has dismissed split matches between Pakistan and UAE.
The disagreement has left the ICC in Perilous position as the deadline for releasing the schedule has crossed due to which broadcaster like Jio star pressuring the global sports body Jio Star pressuring for a resolution due to delays in the tournament schedule.
ICC has been in talks with PCB to convince hybrid model which hosting the group stages in the UAE and knockout matches in Pakistan Seems that most viable compromise.
However, if India progress to the knockouts, further venue adjustments might be necessary, creating additional logistical and political challenges.
The champions trophy, a marquee ICC event heavily depends on the financial and viewership draw of an India-Pakistan clash, a match broadcaster deem crucial for the tournament’s success.
Any withdrawl or boycott by the PCB could strain pakistan cricket’s financial health, already fragile due to limited bilateral series and reduced international exposure.
