More Nails in the Coffin
Here's the schedule for next year's Champions League:
I think this significant for two reasons. First, ICC had postponed the Champions Trophy to Oct 2009, still to be held in Pakistan. The scheduling of the Champions League basically shows that there is very little faith in Pakistan hosting the tournament. Unless ICC comes back with a strong statement criticizing the schedule, assume that the 2008 Champions Trophy is canceled. You can also assume that Pakistan won't be hosting any non-Asian teams anytime soon.
Second, it's also an indication of the worthlessness of the Champions Trophy as a tournament. In the wake of a Twenty20 world, it seems to be the ugly duckling of events.
My suggestion: cancel the 2008/09 version, and stick with the 2010 version in the Caribbean - if only to redeem themselves for a sub-par World Cup (btw, I assign very little blame to the Windies for the failure of the WC - the ICC was the biggest culprit). After 2010, let the tournament fade into obscurity. No one will care.
I'm not sure why countries can't organize more meaningful tri or quad series, rather than large tournaments which almost always don't live up to expectations.
BTW, interesting fact, Pakistan will end up not playing a single Test in 2008! Incredible!
The second Champions Twenty20 League will take place next year between September 25 and October 11, and will feature 12 teams, four more than the first edition to be held between December 3-10, 2008.
I think this significant for two reasons. First, ICC had postponed the Champions Trophy to Oct 2009, still to be held in Pakistan. The scheduling of the Champions League basically shows that there is very little faith in Pakistan hosting the tournament. Unless ICC comes back with a strong statement criticizing the schedule, assume that the 2008 Champions Trophy is canceled. You can also assume that Pakistan won't be hosting any non-Asian teams anytime soon.
Second, it's also an indication of the worthlessness of the Champions Trophy as a tournament. In the wake of a Twenty20 world, it seems to be the ugly duckling of events.
My suggestion: cancel the 2008/09 version, and stick with the 2010 version in the Caribbean - if only to redeem themselves for a sub-par World Cup (btw, I assign very little blame to the Windies for the failure of the WC - the ICC was the biggest culprit). After 2010, let the tournament fade into obscurity. No one will care.
I'm not sure why countries can't organize more meaningful tri or quad series, rather than large tournaments which almost always don't live up to expectations.
BTW, interesting fact, Pakistan will end up not playing a single Test in 2008! Incredible!
Thanks, Sledgehammer, interesting post. I think it is clear that the Champions Trophy is on its last legs, and not many people will mourn its demise.
What I think is more important is that the domestic boards will have proved that they can compete against the ICC's own competitions and win - the danger is that they may continue this strategy and cause disruption to test cricket, and we have already seen series being shortened and rearranged as a result of this. Further thoughts on this can be found in my latest blog post.
My suspicions were right...the 2008/09 CT will likely be scrapped:
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/369216.html
I can understand the reasons, but Pakistan now has to start taking a stand. Not a single Test in 2008, the CT taken away, SA refusing an ODI tri-series, no non-Asian teams schedule to visit anytime soon, etc.
Agreed that Pakistan's internal issues are mostly to blame, but Pakistan's isolation needs to be addressed.
I think Pakistan should start working with other teams to play Tests in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. And ICC should pressure other teams to cooperate. That would be a start.
The more worrying part for me is the last statement of the post - no tests for pakistan this year and then people expect us to be a strong team. How will we be if we don't play any tests?