ISLAMABAD (AP) — The International Cricket Council has informed Pakistan that India has refused to play any Champions Trophy match in the country next year, a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.

“We have received an email from the ICC saying that India will not come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” the PCB spokesperson said.

Pakistan is scheduled to host the Champions Trophy tournament from February 19 to March 9.

The PCB has forwarded the ICC email to the government of Pakistan for further advice.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said last Friday that he was not willing to accept a shared accommodation model, adding that “no discussion has taken place” on such a proposal.

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup, but all of India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid hosting model for the tournament. Several months later Pakistan traveled to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions between the countries have led to the Indian team avoiding traveling to Pakistan since 2008 and the two have tended to only compete together in multinational tournaments, including the ICC World Cups. Pakistan also traveled to India in 2012 for a bilateral ODI series.

The PCB has spent millions of dollars upgrading stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, which will host 15 Champions Trophy matches. Naqvi said he expected all three stadiums to be ready in the next two months.

Eight countries (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan) will compete in the tournament, although the International Cricket Council is yet to announce the schedule.

___

AP Cricket: