In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times Digital, former Pakistan cricket captain Rashid Latif suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take the hosting rights of global events away from both India and Pakistan for the period between 2024 and 2031. Latif’s suggestion comes amid the ongoing dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the upcoming Champions Trophy, which is set to be held in Pakistan next year.
The Dispute Between India and Pakistan
The stand-off between the BCCI and PCB shows no signs of easing. The BCCI has made it clear that India will not tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan. In response, the PCB has sent a letter to the ICC seeking clarification on why India has refused to visit, and on what grounds this decision was made.
Latif feels that the conflict between the two boards should be dealt with more strictly by the ICC. He believes the ICC should take a stronger stance and strip both countries of their hosting rights until they resolve their differences.
Latif’s Suggestion to ICC
“My suggestion is that ICC should take away the hosting rights of all global events from India and Pakistan for the cycle of 2024-2031,” said Latif. “If these two teams don’t want to play in each other’s country, then they should not be allowed to host events either. First, resolve all the issues, and then we will give you the hosting rights,” he added.
Latif pointed out that during this period, Pakistan is supposed to host two ICC events, while India is slated to host four or five. According to him, if the countries cannot resolve their issues, the ICC should reconsider the decision to give them the hosting rights.
Security Concerns and the Legal Process
Latif also questioned the security concerns raised by the BCCI. “How are there security concerns? The ICC delegation visits the country that is supposed to host a global event. No such thing has happened so far, so how can India refuse citing security concerns?” he said. He argued that the proper process, including security checks, had not yet been completed, so it is too early to make decisions based on security issues.
“The process has not been done, so how can anyone refuse? It is a legal matter, and it won’t get solved easily,” he explained. According to Latif, both India and Pakistan had signed agreements under the ICC’s eight-year cycle, which included commitments to host certain tournaments.
Will India Tour Pakistan?
Despite the ongoing tensions, Latif believes that India will eventually tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. “In my opinion, India will come to Pakistan. I am very confident about it,” he said, adding that the tournament will take place in Pakistan as planned. The ICC has yet to make a final decision, but Latif remains optimistic.
ICC’s Role in the Decision
Latif emphasized that the final decision about the Champions Trophy should be made by the ICC, not the BCCI or PCB. “PCB and BCCI are not that big of stakeholders right now. The entire matter is about ICC. They are the ones who made both boards sign the agreement,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions of a “hybrid model” for the Champions Trophy, where India’s matches would be played at a neutral venue. There had been reports suggesting that if Pakistan did not accept the hybrid model, the tournament could be moved to South Africa. However, Latif dismissed these reports, insisting that the tournament should go ahead as per the agreement signed under the eight-year cycle.
“The hosting rights for this tournament were signed under the ICC agreement, and there is nothing about the hybrid model in that agreement,” Latif explained. “The rules should be followed as per the legal document,” he added.
The Current Status of the Champions Trophy
The 2024 Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with Pakistan hosting the tournament across three cities: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The participating teams will include Pakistan, India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
As the dispute between the BCCI and PCB continues, all eyes will be on the ICC to see how they handle the situation and whether the tournament will take place as planned in Pakistan.
In conclusion, Rashid Latif’s comments suggest a possible solution to the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan. He believes that if both countries cannot resolve their issues, the ICC should step in and take away their hosting rights for the next cycle of global tournaments. However, the final decision will rest with the ICC, who must ensure that the legal agreements are followed.
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