PCB looking forward to host five ICC events from 2024-2031

Cricket finally resumed in Pakistan when Zimbabwe toured the Asain nation in the year 2015. The successful staging of the games gave confidence to other countries who slowly began touring Pakistan after a long gap of close to eight years. Recently South Africa too toured the country for an all-format series during the months of February and March.

Now, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is optimistic to pull off ICC events and is looking to bid for five global tournaments from 2024-2031. The ICC recently released a new schedule for the upcoming cycle wherein each year starting from 2024 a major tournament is going to be staged as it is keen to expand the game. The upcoming events include ICC ODI and T20 World Cups as well as the Champions Trophy which was last conducted in the year 2017.

PCB are hoping to stage the global events in their backyard and hope to give its loyal fans some top-notch cricket. A report in The Dawn revealed how PCB chairman Ehsan Mani is taking charge of the situation to successfully get the bidding rights. Mani has vast experience under his belt as he was instrumental in organizing ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and followed by the T20 World Cup in South Africa the same year.

Pakistan eager to host ICC events during the new cycle amidst some challenges

A soon as the ICC released its schedule for the upcoming cycle, it invited various boards from different countries to bid for the hosting rights for the multi-nation tournament. The ICC will take the review of the same by end of December 2021 and an announcement will be made in 2022 about the countries which will be able to host the marquee tournament.

The PCB has a task cut out as it has not hosted any major tournaments since the 1996 World Cup. With India too reluctant to tour due to the ongoing political situation the board has to figure out ways in which they pull off this feat. For now, PCB is ready is keen to host the eight-team Champions Trophy with Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan being the likely venues for the global event.