There was a lot of speculations about Team India travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled in February-March next year.
However, it has now been confirmed that the Men in Blue will not travel across the border for the showpiece tournament.
The PCB said on Sunday (November 10) that it received an email from the ICC about India's unwillingness to tour Pakistan. This development has sparked a massive debate among fans, cricket experts and former cricketers.
Meanwhile, the ICC is trying its best to find a middle ground and put an end to the Champions Trophy deadlock. Notably, the PCB expressed its reluctance to adopt a hybrid model after the BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan for the marquee event.
Amid the stand-off, former PCB chairman Najam Sethi has opined that he sees three options for the ICC arising from the current situation.
"ICC has very few options. One, India comes to play, which they will not. They refused for kabaddi, also blind cricket. Earlier, kabaddi teams used to come, similarly tennis players came for Davis Cup before. This time they (India) have taken a hard line, not just on cricket but on other things (sports) as well. So I think there is something serious here. In that case, it could be a hybrid model, with some matches played in Pakistan and India's matches held elsewhere," said Sethi while talking to 'Samaa TV'.
Sethi was at the helm of PCB when Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but India played all of their matches in Sri Lanka under the 'Hybrid Model'.
"The second option is that if the hybrid model is not acceptable to Pakistan, then the ICC moves the entire tournament to another country. Then, what options will Pakistan have? Either they will say 'we boycott the Champions Trophy' or they agree to play at another venue. But after having rejected a hybrid model, will they consider playing in another country? I think that will be a difficult situation for Pakistan...It may turn into a big issue in political circles," he stated.
The former PCB chairman advised the Pakistan board to deal with caution instead of making an emotional decision.
"If you have rejected a hybrid model after India refused to come and also rejected playing in another country, then you won't play in the future ICC events also. So you are basically going to push yourself out of the ICC. And if you do that, then what will remain besides bilateral cricket? You don't make much money in bilateral cricket because it is reciprocal," Sethi remarked.
"Whoever is making these decisions, they should think what is its logic? India knows its logic behind the boycott; they can sustain it. They have done it before...ICC will then be compelled. But what will Pakistan do?...So my advice is that whoever is making the decisions should think wisely and not emotionally."
