The ICC Champions Trophy, due to take place in Pakistan in two-and-a-half weeks’ time, has been postponed until next year. This is understandable given the recent political turmoil in the country, but are things likely to be any different in 12 months’ time? The decision seems to be either a soft option, or the precursor to an unpopular decision sometime next year.
As things stand, Pakistani cricket is visibly suffering on a number of fronts, not least from the continued reluctance of Australia, amongst others, to tour the country, despite the fact that it has hosted competitions such as the Asia Cup without serious incident.
The Champions Trophy itself may be another victim of this postponement, not least because next year’s schedule is already packed with the World Twenty20, the next edition of the IPL (and its many competitors and/or copycats) and of course the Ashes. Is there room in amongst all that for a poor man’s World Cup?
We all know terrorism is Pakistan has not suddenly sprung up and has been around for a long time. Let us see what changes in 12 months. I think it is more or less cancelled. They have used a euphemistic substitution with “postponed”.