ICC Cancels Champions Trophy in Pakistan as India Refuses to Travel

The cancellation of the tournament can be attributed to scheduling conflicts and the inability to officially announce the program, according to the ICC. The main issue at the center of the controversy is India's refusal to participate on Pakistan's soil, with the Indian government and the BCCI insisting on games being held at a neutral venue, possibly the UAE.

However, an ICC official apparently reported to Cricbuzz that the ICC would cite the poor air quality and intense smog in the city of Lahore, where the event was set to take place, as a reason for why the event was postponed.

The ICC have attempted to minimise concerns regarding the cancellation, with a source telling Cricbuzz: “It was only a trophy tour flag off and tournament/branding launch. (The event) is still in the works -- though may be rescheduled because of Lahore outdoor activities are difficult right now.”

The Champions Trophy is set to host eight teams in 15 matches, with India originally being slated by the ICC to play their three group stage games in Lahore. However, India’s hesitation to play in Pakistan has made this seem increasingly unlikely. A hybrid model looks to be on the cards, with the additional travel for other teams likely the reason for the scheduling uncertainty.

It also remains to be seen how the moving-parts elements of the tournament would be handled if India are included, such as qualification to the semifinals or finals, and whether Pakistan would lose access to the finals of their first marquee ICC event in nearly 30 years if India should demand to play the knockout rounds in the UAE.

Pakistan are currently beginning their preparations for the home Champions Trophy with a tour of Australia for white-ball cricket, including ODIs, where they are looking to complete a comeback and beat their hosts in the ongoing match in Perth.