Champions Trophy: Slap on face for PCB as ICC announce dates and venues for trophy tour after strong reaction from Jay Shah

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So, the ICC (International Cricket Council) knows how to grab the bull by its horns and tame it. On Saturday, the Dubai office of the ICC came out with the Champions Trophy tour schedule, which clearly showed they mean business.

Sample the dates for the tour allotted to India, it ends on January 26, which is Republic Day. It is only a day later the trophy goes to Pakistan. Venues mentioned in Pakistan where the trophy will be displayed are not what was mentioned before.

The mindless PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) officials had deliberately put out on social media, names of controversial places coming under comes under POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). It was politically motivated, which India objected to with alacrity.

One has to grant it to Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, who will be taking over as ICC chairman on December 1. He was furious with the trophy tour places mentioned by the PCB and it was changed in no time. It shows, the junior Shah means business and will not be a mute spectator.

Of course, there is a lot of uncertainty over the hybrid model, which India had suggested. It is well-known, that India will not travel to Pakistan at any cost. It is a terror state. For all those social media handles from Pakistan that keep baiting India, and say 'come over,' there is zero chance India will go.

People need to recall, that even the United States of America and Britain had issued in September a warning to the public not to travel to Pakistan. There is a high perception of terror threat at this level. It is also like travelling to Bangladesh at this point in time, where there is total unrest in the state.

Why Pakistan is unsafe, they themselves know well. On paper, there is a democratically elected government, but the anarchy and collapse of the economy are well known. India is well aware of the situation in Pakistan and how sending the cricket team will never be accepted.

For those who are liberal and think peace deserves a chance between India and Pakistan, cricket can never be a tool. Announcing a trophy tour in POK, Pakistan, complicated matters further. Surely, this was not a decision that would have been taken by the PCB without instructions from the politicians, again controlled by the ISI.

That is why Jay Shah's response time was prompt. This is also a sign of things to come in the future. If a hybrid model is accepted, which is the only way as it was for the Asia Cup last year, then the three venues in the United Arab Emirates are best suited. But there is a catch, again.

If India makes it to the final, it will still not travel to Pakistan. That is out of the question. So, again, in the hybrid model, there will have to be provision for two cities as hosts for the final, one in Pakistan and one in Dubai, most likely. What appears certain is, that if the trophy tour dates have been announced minus delay, the ICC will stick to the original dates allotted for the event.

Perhaps, well before Jay Shah assumes office as chairman of the ICC, all this uncertainty will end and the ICC will come out with another press release. Jay Shah will want to look at more important issues as the global head of cricket. Pakistan cannot be a priority when it continues to play pranks.