ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday categorically said that there is no back channel diplomacy with India to specifically discuss the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and bilateral cricket.
The spokesperson said this during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged India not to sacrifice sports for politics. “Pakistan has always said that sports should not be politicized,” she maintained.
Baloch said, “The issues relating to the holding of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket are being dealt with by the Pakistan Cricket Board and they have the lead on this,”.
The spokesperson said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in contact with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss the arrangements, including the participation of different teams in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held next year.
Baloch said that further details with regards to the holding of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the participation of the various teams are available with the PCB, which can share with you the outcome of their efforts.
On Tuesday, PCB said that it has asked the ICC to explain India’s refusal to send a cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.
ICC informed the PCB last week that India would not tour Pakistan for the eight-team tournament.
Pakistan had previously rejected the option of a hybrid arrangement that would allow India to play their matches at neutral venues, for example in the United Arab Emirates.
“The PCB has responded to last week’s ICC letter seeking clarifications for the Indian Board’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy,” Sami-Ul-Hasan told AFP.
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Pakistani media reported on Tuesday that the PCB would be unwilling to accept security reasons for India’s refusal to visit.
New Zealand have toured Pakistan three times in the past two years, with England visiting twice and Australia once in the same period.
Pakistan also visited India for last year’s ODI World Cup and the PCB had expected the gesture to be reciprocated for the Champions Trophy.
The ICC Champions Trophy is slated to be played across three venues — Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi — from February 19 to March 9 next year.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi termed India’s refusal as disappointing. “Almost every country wants the tournament to be played in Pakistan and it will be disappointing if they don’t come,” Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, said last week.
“I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter. We’ll give every team as many facilities as we can.”
