India will play its matches at the 2024 Champions Trophy at a neutral venue due to political tensions with Pakistan. The tournament, scheduled for February and March 2024, will be the first global event hosted by Pakistan since 1996. This arrangement extends to future ICC events involving both teams.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that India will play its matches at the upcoming Champions Trophy at a neutral venue. This decision follows India’s indication that it would not compete in Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations. As a result, the tournament, scheduled for early next year, will instead see India participate at a location agreed upon to ensure fairness and safety.
The Champions Trophy, which will feature eight teams including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, marks the first occasion since 1996 that Pakistan has hosted a major global cricket event. It is important to note that, due to the longstanding political issues between India and Pakistan, the two teams have not faced each other in any major tournaments since 2013, with India last competing in Pakistan in 2008.
Under the arrangements outlined by the ICC, matches scheduled between India and Pakistan for ICC events across the 2024-2027 period will be held at neutral venues. This policy will also extend to the upcoming Women’s World Cup in India, the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, as well as the Women’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan in 2028, where neutral venue protocols will similarly apply. The definitive schedule of the Champions Trophy is expected to be released soon.
The Champions Trophy is an international cricket tournament that features several top cricketing nations. The 2024 edition is significant as it will be hosted in Pakistan, a country that has not hosted a major global cricket event since 1996. Political relations between India and Pakistan are complex, which has resulted in the two teams avoiding matches against each other outside of major tournaments, thus hindering direct competition. This situation prompts the ICC to maintain a neutral venue for matches involving India and Pakistan, aiming to ensure a level playing field while prioritizing the safety of players and officials.
In summary, the ICC’s decision to have India play its matches at a neutral venue during the upcoming Champions Trophy reflects ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. This decision underscores the importance of ensuring both player safety and fair competition in international cricket. As the world eagerly awaits the Champions Trophy schedule, the implications of these arrangements for future cricketing events between the two nations remain significant.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
