India continue to oppose Champions Trophy

The future of the ICC Champions Trophy still hangs in the balance © Getty Images

India have said they would fulfill their commitment to host the Champions Trophy this year but were not in favour of the such a concept. "When the event began in 1998, it was a 12-day knockout tournament but it is getting bigger and bigger. The other point is that the event hurts the interests of India and Pakistan directly because it is held in October and November which is a cricket season for both the countries," Niranjan Shah, the Indian board's secretary, told PTI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

"We have proposed that the ICC should only organise the Under-19 World Cup other than the World Cup. We have discussed this proposal with Cricket Australia, Pakistan and the Asian Cricket Council," Shah, who represented the Indian board at the ICC meeting yesterday in Karachi, added.

He said Australia and Pakistan had not yet confirmed if they were ready to support India, but vowed that he would raise the matter during the ICC meeting in March.

On the India-Pakistan series, Shah said the two boards had mutually decided to have the bilateral series once in two years. "We have not signed any MoU or contract but it is a verbal understanding that while we cannot dilute the series, we cannot have it every year. It has to be on the same pattern as the Ashes that would keep the interest of the spectators alive and continue to attract major sponsors."

Shah also said when Pakistan tour India in 2008, he would like to see more matches being played. He said, "The tour is too far away but we would like to play more Tests and one-day internationals for two simple reasons: people want to see the two teams in action and India is a huge country and all the associations want to host Pakistan-India games."