Champions Trophy without India not an option: ECB

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chiefs are confident a solution can be found if India do not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, adding that India’s participation is necessary to protect the tournament’s broadcast rights.

Pakistan, who won the last edition of the Champions Trophy in England in 2017, will host the February 19-March 9 tournament.

Due to their soured political relations, India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 and the rivals play each other only at multi-team events.

Pakistan also hosted the Asia Cup last year but eventual winners India played all their matches in Sri Lanka under what the organisers called a “hybrid model”. At the time, India said they did not get permission from their government to tour Pakistan.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said last month the final decision over whether India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy would be taken by the government.

“I know Pakistan are expecting India to travel,” ECB chief Richard Gould said.

Gould and ECB chair Richard Thompson are in Pakistan for England’s three-Test series and have met with Pakistan Cricket Board officials during the ongoing second Test in Multan.

“There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn’t happen. I wouldn’t have thought (it would be played without India), because if you play the Champions Trophy without India the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we need to protect them.

“Hopefully, we can have the fullest possible competition in Pakistan.”

Sajid inspires Pakistan turnaround

MULTAN: England opener Ben Duckett smashed a belligerent hundred but Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan struck three late blows to leave the second Test evenly poised on an enthralling second day on Wednesday. Replying to Pakistan’s first-innings 366, England cruised to 211/2 with Duckett and Joe Root looking well set before Sajid (4/86) triggered a spectacular collapse. England limped to 239/6 at stumps having lost five wickets in the final session including three in eight deliveries. They are still 127 behind with Jamie Smith (12) and Brydon Carse (two) at the crease. It was a far cry from their swashbuckling batting earlier in the day when England scored at almost seven-an-over in the first 10. Duckett (114) led the way, forging 50-plus partnerships with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Joe Root. The feisty left-hander combined in a breezy 73-run opening stand with Zak Crawley, who led a charmed life before falling for 27. Root (34), the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, added 86 runs with Duckett but fluffed a sweep shot against Sajid. Reuters