Amid uncertainty over India's travel to Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy, cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra feels the tournament can't happen with India.
That the BCCI has intimated the ICC that India will not be visiting Pakistan for the showpiece event and the PCB has approached the federal government for advice. In all this, Chopra would also prove that India's absence might be too severe an affront that the ICC may have to cancel the tournament outright for the financial implications of denying one market, the biggest one at that.
India's participation is very important for any ICC tournament to be considered a success as the board gets substantial broadcast revenue," says Chopra. "Yes, this is an ICC event. Broadcasters have committed money for the event. But there is always a rider that if ICC cannot assure India's participation, then the broadcasters won't invest or there will be a financial re-evaluation. If India doesn't play, the money falls drastically, Aakash said in his YouTube channel, reflecting on the ongoing saga over the Champions Trophy.
The world's top eight cricketing nations are to make the Champions Trophy return that has been on an eight-year hiatus, with Pakistan winning the right to host it. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been stout in his declaration that if India wants to play against Pakistan then it is their duty to visit Pakistan. India, however, cite insecurity reasons for not being eager to participate against Pakistan, and tensions of geopolitics have only made this aversion deeper.
Chopra ventured a guess that if the Champions Trophy event proceeds, India's matches may be shifted to a neutral location like the UAE.
"The last PCB board chief during the 2023 ODI World Cup said 'dushman mulk ja rahe hum' (we are going into the enemy's territory). In the future, if Pakistan decide not to play against India, then there will be repercussions. India will also face repercussions if they do not visit Pakistan but the sanctions will be monetary, and how does the ICC stop India's money going to India? Pakistan don't have that kind of leverage. This is the hard reality. I feel it is absolutely certain that without India, there will be no Champions Trophy. Every team including Pakistan understands that," Chopra added.
Apparently, during the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan 'protested' at having to travel to India but played, and Chopra says everyone involved knows India's absence would put the Champions Trophy at risk.
"PCB knows the reality that if the Indian government has decided not to give permission to their team to travel to Pakistan, then the team cannot come and Champions Trophy without India won't be possible. It is the reality. In all probability, India matches will be played in the UAE," Chopra added.
