Shoaib Akhtar Predicts BCCI's U-Turn On ICC Champions Trophy Stance After PCB's Adamant No To Hybrid Model

Shoaib Akhtar Predicts BCCI's U-Turn On ICC Champions Trophy Stance: 'India Is Coming To Pakistan' (Source: AP/X)

The ICC Champions Trophy is less than 100 days away yet there is no confirmation where the tournament will be played. The event is scheduled in Pakistan but the BCCI 's last-minute refusal to play the tournament in the country has put its fate in jeopardy. The BCCI's stance was more or less predicted, but they waited till the last hour to give a confirmation, leaving PCB miffed. The Champions Trophy saga has now turned into a battle of egos as PCB have also cleared they won't agree to BCCI's demands of a hybrid model.

With time running out, ICC will have to come up with a solution. It's not possible for ICC to meet the demands of both boards and one of the BCCI or PCB will have to take a back step. PCB being the weaker board has greater odds of surrendering to BCCI's demands. If they don't, all the stakeholders could suffer huge financial losses.

Meanwhile, pace great Shoaib Akhtar presented his take on the ongoing tussle and said there is still a chance for India to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Akhtar ruled out the possibility of India pulling out of the tournament citing sponsorship deals and said the BCCI and PCB will find a way out of the issue.

"There will be back channel talks. Even in days of war there is back channel talks. We should not lose hope. We have to look forward to a solution. We know a fact that 95-96 per cent of sponsorship for ICC comes from India," Shoaib Akhtar said in an as quoted by NDTV.

"It's really up to the governments. It's nothing to do with the BCCI. Virat Kohli is trying to play in Pakistan for the first time. Pakistan wants to see Virat play in Pakistan. Imagine him scoring a century in Pakistan. It will be a full circle for him. Pakistan has got a tag that it cannot host big tournaments like World Cup. If this (Champions Trophy) happens it will be a stepping stone for bigger events. I don't think this will happen. Keeping the fingers crossed. Wait till the last moment. I think currently, as of now, India is coming to Pakistan."

According to reports, ICC could announce the schedule in the ongoing week. The schedule was set to be announced earlier this month but was delayed as ICC couldn't find a solution to the controversy.

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