LAHORE: PCB has proposed to start next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan on February 19. ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB has written in the tournament to be played in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore from February 19 to March 9. Karachi will host three matches, including the tournament opener and semi-finals, while Lahore will host seven matches, including the final. The other semi-final will be one of five contests at the Pindi Cricket Ground.
Several ICC officials visited Pakistan to check the arrangements for hosting the first ICC tournament in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. They included security and event staff, as well as chief ground supervisor Andy Atkinson, and are understood to have received positive feedback from the ICC in terms of logistics and discipline. so the PCB is moving forward with its plan.
The current date, if final, means the last third of the PSL knockout round will be held in the month of Ramadan, as was the case last year. Some of the knockout matches in Karachi had low attendance during Ramadan. PCB has tried and accommodated this by moving the start time to 21:00, which would not be possible even if the Champions Trophy is an ODI tournament. This means that most of the game will be in the sunrise and sunset window, where players observing Ramadan can not eat or drink.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier, every match of the tournament in India will be played in Lahore. This means that one semi-final will be played from Karachi or Rawalpindi to Lahore for India to qualify for the quarter-finals. It is believed that an Indian base in a city is recommended because it avoids logistical and security problems on its journey. Also, with its location in Lahore close to the Wagah border between the two countries, it becomes easier for Indian fans to visit.
As always, the big question ahead of the event will surround India’s participation. The Indian team has not played Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup and there has not been a bilateral series between the two since Pakistan chalked it up in 2012-13. Last year, when the PCB hosted the Asia Cup, a hybrid model was deployed that included multiple matches, including an all-India format, with the final being held in Sri Lanka in Colombo, India. BCCI’s decision to tour Pakistan remains in the hands of the Indian government.
Before the tournament, Pakistan will also play a three-match ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand.
Pakistan are the defending champions after winning the last Champions Trophy in 2017.
