NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Khalid Mahmood has expressed doubts that India will participate in the
ICC Champions Trophy
in Pakistan early next year, highlighting the potential financial and operational repercussions for both the PCB and ICC if India doesn't attend.
"They are very very slim chances they will agree to play in Pakistan," Mahmood, who is a retired senior bureaucrat, said.
He mentioned that India's absence could set a precedent for other cricketing nations, further complicating the event's logistics and profitability.
"India is the richest cricket board and carries a lot of clout. If they don't send their team to Pakistan I foresee even countries like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh following their path," news agency PTI quoted Mahmood as saying.
"This would basically reduce the
Champions Trophy
into a venture where revenues will take a hit, expenses will grow and profits would fall," Mahmood, who twice went to India in 1989 and 1999 as Pakistan's junior and senior team manager, said.
Mahmood advised the PCB to maintain its stance of separating sports from politics to avoid further complications.
"Look the thing is at this level you can only lobby and try to convince other boards to be on your side. India has too much clout in the ICC it would do no good for Pakistan to adopt a tit for tat strategy."
"Thing is when the BCCI says it can't send its team and will play its matches outside Pakistan, it does reduce the purpose for Pakistan of hosting an ICC event," he added.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9 next year.
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