The 2025 Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, was plunged into uncertainty with reports emerging of India refusing to travel to their neighbouring country and the hosts unwilling to give up hosting rights for any match.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it clear his country will not stage matches of the 2025 Champions Trophy outside the country if India do not travel for the tournament.
Pakistan, winners of the last Champions Trophy in 2017, are scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 to March. It is set to be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan since it shared the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
The country is rebuilding all its main cricket venues for the tournament.
Due to frayed political relations, India have not visited Pakistan since 2008. The two only face each other at multi-team events. The two nations also do not play bilateral cricket matches due to India's stance, but regularly play each other in other sports at all levels.
Pakistan also hosted the Asia Cup last year but winners India played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a "hybrid model".
On Friday, Indian media reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had informed the PCB that they have been advised by the Indian government not to travel to Pakistan, and instead play India's matches at a neutral venue.
"In the last two months, the Indian media has been reporting that India isn't travelling. I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have," Naqvi told reporters.
"Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB. Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here.
"I remain in touch with several boards, and they're all looking forward to playing here. I don't think anyone should make this a political matter. We'll give every team as many facilities as we can. We'd like to see fans from abroad come for the tournament, too."
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgradation of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy matches. Naqvi hoped all three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The development came as Pakistan was rocked by an explosion at a railway station in the Balochistan province on Saturday. The explosion in Quetta killed at least 26 people, including 14 soldiers, and injured dozens more.
The incident occurred as passengers were waiting on a platform in the capital of the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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