What Can India do as Pakistan Politicize Champions Trophy With Jay Shah Set to Take Over as ICC Chair?

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There is a huge difference between bravado and being boorish. Indeed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown that the people running it have fogged brains, for a Champions Trophy tour to have been held in places like Skardu, Hunz, Muzaffarabad - all in POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) has come in for massive flak.

This was a definite bait, in true Pakistan style, knowing fully well in less than a fortnight, BCCI secretary Jay Shah will become the ICC chairman. For his part, the younger Shah had to alert the ICC to stop this purported madness.

It is, as if, Pakistan is waiting to needle India, something they do day in and day out in very walk of life. If there was an attempt to re-establish cricket diplomacy, it has been smashed out of the park.

Over the last one week, Pakistan have become more rabid, more arrogant, wanting proof and reasons from India why they will not travel across the border for the Champions Trophy. It was a proxy war of sorts being waged through the ICC, since the PCB does not have the temerity to ask the BCCI why it won't travel.

The latest attempt at a trophy tour through POK, posted on social media on Saturday has made the intentions clear, a state in turmoil wants to only foment trouble. Its political establishment can stoop to any level. This way, even the handful of supporters left for Pakistan will now shy away.

To rattle India or Jay Shah is next to impossible. If anything, Pakistan is going to create more trouble for itself. It could well be like what happened after the Sri Lankans were attacked in 2008 in Pakistan and all countries stopped touring the country.

Barring India, other countries do visit Pakistan for bilateral series. Given the clout which India always had over the ICC, things will get hot for Pakistan. The very concept of a hybrid model, first rejected by Pakistan can now also be refused by India.

If anything, India can put its hands up and say it will host the Champions Trophy in 2025. There is no dearth of good stadia, infrastructure and sponsors in India.

Everyone knows, despite India having hosted the ICC ODI World Cup almost a year ago, if sponsors have to be brought on board quickly, the BCCI can dot it.

Sample what mayhem will happen when the IPL auction takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in less than 10 days. Big purses will be opened for the marquee cricketers. Pakistan is jealous of this as well, since Pakistan players are not allowed in the IPL.

Silence should never be misconstrued as a sign of weakness or nicety, that is what Pakistan has done by wanting a trophy tour in POK. It is well-known, after elections to the state of Jammu and Kashmir were held recently, Pakistan was upset.

It has tried to foment trouble, in vain. Then again, Pakistan knows now, hard talk will not work. If they think Jay Shah is a soft personality, they are wrong. He commands massive respect from the big cricket nations where the sport has tradition, like England and Pakistan.

Pakistan has shot itself in the foot and now there is no need for further proof the PCB is controlled by its political establishment. Sample this, they treat their own former cricket captain and former Prime Minister Imran Khan like a criminal. He is languishing in jail.

How does one expect niceties from Pakistan when it is harsh with its own legend? One can foresee worse days ahead for Pakistan in cricket vis a vis relations with India. Forget bilateral series, they have lost friends in India, the few who were left.

And for all talk of Pakistan wanting to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026 in India, that is nonsense. They are in no position to refuse and face further isolation. The big question, can India host the Champions Trophy in 2025. Why not, they should attempt it.