Tom Clark: India’s refusal to attend the ICC Champions Trophy is a farcical situation that was ignored and inevitable

The Indian government and the cricket team's threat not to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy is as inevitable as it was predictable.

As a result, serious questions must be raised about the role of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its ability to govern world cricket.

The decision to award Pakistan the right to host the 2025 Champions Trophy was a choice fraught with political risks that should have been anticipated. The ICC must take a holistic view when planning tournaments, considering not only the sporting side but also the political realities of the countries involved.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 due to political tensions, and the Indian government, citing security concerns, has already made it clear it would not approve Indian cricketers travelling to Pakistan next year. 

Given the long-standing rivalry and security sensitivities, the ICC should have secured assurances from India that it would take part in Pakistan, or laid down the marker that the tournament would go ahead without them. 

No ifs, no buts, no hybrid tournament. It is purely and simply either in Pakistan or without India.

Shifting the tournament away from Pakistan, even to a hybrid model, is hugely disrespectful to the country and the work the Pakistan Cricket Board has put into rebuilding its cricket infrastructure. 

Hosting the Champions Trophy was seen as a significant step for Pakistan and would go a long way toward demonstrating that the country is a safe destination for international cricket. 

Beyond cricket, staging their first international tournament since 1996 is seen as a key step in improving Pakistan’s global image and answering longstanding security concerns about travel within the country.  

Moving the tournament to a co-host undermines Pakistan and sends a message that India is the only country on the international stage that matters to the ICC. Hardly breaking news, but this will confirm it.

The ICC has set a precedent when it comes to teams refusing to play due to political tensions. In past tournaments, countries have faced point deductions or fines for withdrawing from matches for similar reasons. If the ICC does not apply consistent rules, it risks sending the message that nations can pick and choose when they want to compete based on political considerations, a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of the sport.

If India refuses to participate in Pakistan, the ICC must take a firm stance and impose consequences. 

The tournament should go ahead with full participation, and any country that withdraws should forfeit its spot. This would ensure the tournament’s integrity and reinforce the principle that the rules apply to everyone, regardless of their global influence.

Inevitably, the ICC will bow to Indian pressure. By doing so, it will show great disrespect to both the Pakistani government and its cricket-loving population.

While the Indian government holds the final say on whether the team can travel, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plays an influential role. The BCCI has the power to work with the Indian government to explore ways for the team to travel to Pakistan much in the way that Pakistan travelled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

India have reportedly got away with shabby treatment towards Pakistani cricketers, journalists, supporters and even those from other nations with Pakistani heritage while the ICC watched idly by. 

Now is the time to stand up to India and despite the financial hit of holding a tournament without a cricketing superpower, it is one worth taking.

If Pakistan can make the journey to India, it is only fair that India reciprocates or faces the consequences any country refusing to go to India would – expulsion from the tournament and sanctions. 

Decisive action, to ensure the integrity of the competition, must be taken. The ICC must resist bending over backwards for India and if they refuse to travel to Pakistan, their spot should be awarded to another country. 

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