Pakistan to bid for major events in ICC meeting this month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will place bids this month for at least five major international events as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought offers for the hosting rights of the men’s events from 2024 to 2031.

The major men’s event to be organised during this period will be four T20 World Cups, two ODI World Cups, and two Champions Trophy events. The T20 World Cups will be held in 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2030. The ODI World Cups will be staged in 2026 and then in 2030.

Champions Trophy will be staged in 2024 and then in 2028. The World Test Championship finals are also planned after every two years, in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031.

In a special communique with the chairman PCB Ehsan Mani, the ICC has asked the board to submit the bids. “We have planned to submit a strong bid for major international events to be held during this period,” a source said.

It is believed that Pakistan will submit bids to host both T20 World Cup (co-host) and Champions Trophy (single host) to be held in 2024.

“There is every possibility that Pakistan will go on to host major international cricketing events from 2024 to 2031. We can host the T20 World Cup or fifty overs aside World Cup as a co-host with either the UEA, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh. There are good chances that Pakistan will place a bid to host T20 World Cup 2024 jointly with the UAE and bid to host the World Cup in 2026 along with Sri Lanka,” the source added.

However, when it will come to hosting the eight-team Champions Trophy in 2024, Pakistan plans to host it without any other country. Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi could be the venues for the event.

“In all Pakistan plans to submit a bid for no less than five mega events. That will be besides the plan to host the World Test Championship final in 2025 and 2027. The PCB believes that Pakistan deserves a major share during this period.