LAHORE: The International Cricket Council, still unable to announce a fresh date for its Board meeting to resolve the deadlock on the Champions Trophy following India’s refusal to visit Pakistan, has convened an internal meeting with its sponsors and stakeholders on Thursday, well-informed sources told Dawn.
The delay in the announcement of the schedule of the Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan from Feb 19 to March 9, is proving worrisome for sponsors and broadcasters who have to make their arrangements.
The cut-off date for the announcement of the schedule was Nov 20 but confusion persists with the Board of Control for Cricket in India yet to accept the hybrid formula presented by the Pakistan Cricket Board which proposes that Pakistan and India will play their matches at neutral venues for events hosted by India and Pakistan respectively.
“The ICC has summoned a meeting with its sponsors and broadcasters for Thursday to apprise them about the current affairs of the Champions Trophy,” sources told Dawn. “The BCCI has not yet submitted its suggestion to the ICC on how to resolve the issue and as India is considered as cricket’s financial power, the ICC cannot announce the schedule without India’s consent.
