The objection caused the delay in the completion of a new route, raising the prospect of the tour being delayed altogether. The PCB had announced the launch and route of the tour on its social media channels on Thursday, surprising the ICC; since it is an ICC event, the protocol is for the global body to announce these details.
But an alternative route was finalized late on Friday, allowing the tour to begin, as originally planned and announced by the PCB, from Saturday. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will accompany the trophy on the first day as it is displayed on familiar landmarks in the capital, including Daman-e-Koh, the Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument.
From Islamabad, the trophy will go to schools, colleges and landmarks in Abbottabad, Murree and Karachi in the initial leg of the match before embarking on an international tour and taking on the other seven countries that are part of the Champions Trophy.
The trophy will then return to Pakistan on 27 January, three weeks before the scheduled start of the tournament, with another tour of venues around Pakistan.
The PCB has written to the ICC asking the BCCI to write down the exact reasons for its inability to visit as well as asked the ICC when informed of the BCCI’s decision.
