NEW DELHI: The ICC Continuing discussions about the Champions trophy There was speculation that the entire tournament could be moved out of Pakistan after India refused to travel to the country, a source said on Tuesday.
There have been rumors that South Africa could be a viable alternative for organizing next year's Champions Trophy, but PTI understands that no such discussion has taken place this year International cricket Council on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, it was no surprise that ICC has also put on hold the inaugural event of the prestigious ODI tournament, which was scheduled to take place in Lahore on November 11.
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ICC, the game's global governing body, has received a letter from Pakistan cricket Boardand sought a written confirmation from the BCCI that India cannot travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
The Circuit board has told the ICC that security is not an issue in the country, which recently successfully hosted England and New Zealand, and has promised the same for the Champions Trophy.
They remained steadfast in their position not to hold the event in a hybrid modellike last year's Asia Cup, when India's games were held in Sri Lanka.
The ICC has not yet responded to the PCB and was discussing the schedule with the participating teams.
The PTI has learned that the PCB is also not interested in hosting the tournament outside the country, even in the UAE.
However, the launch event in Lahore was postponed.
The planning was done in Lahore as per the ICC management's briefing to the ICC CEC and the ICC Board on October 21 in Dubai. But this has now been put on hold, an ICC insider informed.
South Africa is not being discussed as an option
Despite reports in some sections of the media that South Africa could be an option to host the next Champions Trophy, the option has still not been seriously discussed within the ICC, claimed an insider following developments.
The schedule has not yet been determined, the ICC is still in discussions and dialogue with the host and participating countries. South Africa has not yet been discussed, said the insider.
The PCB had confirmed on Sunday that it had received an email from the ICC in which India refused to travel to the neighboring country.
India has not traveled to Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The two teams only compete against each other in ICC tournaments.