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The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet this week to determine the fate of next year’s Champions Trophy after India refused to play hosts Pakistan, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the ICC informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that India would not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, leaving the fate of the event up in the air.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since splitting from the subcontinent in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A Dubai-based ICC spokesperson told AFP they could “confirm an ICC meeting on Friday” where the issue would be on the agenda, without providing further details.
The PCB has already rejected proposals that would allow India to play in a neutral third country, insisting that the entire schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be played on its territory.
The Indian Cricket Board has not commented on the tournament.
Deteriorating political ties mean bitter rivals India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series in more than a decade, only facing each other in ICC multinational events.
Pakistan suffered a multi-year drought at home, with teams refusing to travel there after a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. International play only fully resumed in 2020.
When Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year, India’s matches were held outside the country.
But Pakistan cricket chiefs have dismissed security fears over the Champions Trophy, pointing to their recent success in hosting top teams including Australia, England and South Africa.
The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event hosted in Pakistan since Pakistan co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
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