Jay Shah Condemns PCB’s Champions Trophy Tour in PoJK
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, has expressed strong disapproval of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to conduct the Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoJK). Shah has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action, citing concerns over territorial integrity and political interference in sports.
The PCB announced that the tour will begin in Islamabad and include locations such as Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad in the PoJK region. This decision has raised concerns about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy.
India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral series since 2012-13, only meeting in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. Recently, the PCB sought clarification from the ICC on India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, citing security concerns. The ICC confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan for the event.
The PCB, after consulting with the Pakistan government, is considering a hybrid model where India would play its matches at a different venue while the rest of the tournament occurs in Pakistan. This model was previously used during the Asia Cup, with India playing in Sri Lanka.
Doubts Revealed
Jay Shah -: Jay Shah is the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is the governing body for cricket in India. He is responsible for making important decisions related to Indian cricket.
PCB -: PCB stands for Pakistan Cricket Board, which is the organization responsible for managing cricket in Pakistan. They organize cricket matches and tournaments in Pakistan.
Champions Trophy -: The Champions Trophy is a major international cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It features top cricket teams from around the world competing against each other.
PoJK -: PoJK stands for Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir. It is a region that India claims as part of its territory, but it is currently administered by Pakistan. This area is a point of dispute between India and Pakistan.
ICC -: ICC stands for International Cricket Council, which is the global governing body for cricket. It organizes major international cricket tournaments and sets rules for the game.
Territorial integrity -: Territorial integrity refers to the principle that a country’s borders should not be changed or violated by other countries. In this context, it means that India believes PoJK is part of its territory and should not be used for international events by Pakistan.
Political interference -: Political interference means when political issues or disputes affect decisions or events. In this case, it refers to the political tension between India and Pakistan affecting the cricket tournament.
Hybrid model -: A hybrid model in this context means organizing the cricket tournament in a way that involves multiple locations or countries, possibly to address security or political concerns.