Karachi: Positive signals are emerging from across the border regarding participation in the Champions Trophy. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has declared the next ODI event and the Test Championship as the team’s targets after the T20 World Cup.
According to details, with the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, attention is now shifting to the next mega event, the Champions Trophy, which will be held in the ODI format in Pakistan next year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has sent the proposed schedule to the ICC, which states that the tournament will commence on February 19, with the final on March 9.
There were doubts about India’s participation in the tournament. Last year, the BCCI refused to send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Although the PCB managed to retain hosting rights under the so-called hybrid model, it caused significant complications for their own team.
Now, following the T20 World Cup victory, the possibility of the Indian team visiting Pakistan has increased. A statement from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has also surfaced, in which he identified the Champions Trophy and the Test Championship titles as the next targets for his team. Although he did not specifically mention sending the team to Pakistan, the PCB has firmly stated that it will host the Champions Trophy solely in its own country.
There is a proposal to hold all of India’s matches in one city, Lahore. Regarding the T20 victory, Jay Shah mentioned that as our team continues to improve, our next targets are the World Test Championship final and the Champions Trophy, with the same squad participating, which will include senior players.
His reference was to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have retired from the T20 international format but continue to play ODI and Test cricket. Thus, they could be seen in action during the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Jay Shah further stated that last year, these same captains led us to the Test Championship final. We won all our matches to reach there, but Australia played better in the final, which is why we lost. This time our team performed better and worked hard. Experience is important; you can’t experiment too much in a World Cup. A good player knows when to retire from the game.
Look at Rohit Sharma’s strike rate; it’s better than many young players. I want India to win all titles together. We currently have great bench strength. To give you an idea, only three players from this team will go on the next tour of Zimbabwe. If needed, we can field three teams simultaneously.
Meanwhile, preparations for hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan are progressing rapidly. ICC pitch consultants and security experts have reviewed the hosting venues. Upgradation work is ongoing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where the main building has been demolished and will be rebuilt. The venue is being prepared for major competitions. Experts are hopeful that the Indian team will come to Pakistan to play. If the BCCI officially confirms their participation in the event, all matches will be held in Lahore.
