The ICC Champions Trophy is slated to take place in Pakistan early next year and Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi have been named venues for the tournament.
The ICC recently approved a budget of approximately USD 70 million for Champions Trophy but India’s stance on travel to Pakistan is still not clear for the 8-team tournament.
Mushtaq opined that fuss should not be made over India’s travel and the cricket’s global governing body will look to sort out the issue.
“It’s simple. If India wants to come, they can. If they don’t want to come, it doesn’t matter. There’s no point in making a fuss about it. This won’t make either party good or bad. This is ICC’s event, and they will look into this matter, as they should,” Mushtaq was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The PCB has left it up to the International Cricket Council to convince the BCCI to send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
However, the approval of the total budget (USD 70 million and USD 4.5 million) and additional expenses at the last ICC meet has generated speculations that the back up funds have been kept in case India refuses to send its team to Pakistan and some matches have to be played at other venues.
The PCB chief also recently advised its office and colleagues to not issue any statements related to India’s decision on sending its team.
Chief Mohsin Naqvi had directed all concerned officials to keep on making preparations for the Champions Trophy assuming India will be sending its team, news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
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