What is the Champions Trophy for?

To avoid the confusing scenes on the TV of England looking like a half decent one-day side (SA 26-2 when I started), I thought I’d jot down a few thoughts on the “postponement” of the ICC trophy.

1.Personally, I think the tournament should have gone ahead. The terrorist threat has been exaggerated because cricketers (and maybe administrators?) don’t want to go to Pakistan. I’ve never been to Pakistan, so I am, like all bloggers, speculating here. But why would terrorists seeking to further their cause in a cricket-mad country like Pakistan think it was a good idea to blow up international cricketers? Try to imagine a terrorist organization dedicated to the cause of English independence aiming to attract support by bombing premiership football matches. Unlikely.

2. It is not a postponement, more of a delayed cancellation. Michael Clarke and Cricket Australia’s comments after the announcement make it pretty obvious most of the players didn’t have the slightest intention of going. Australia haven’t toured Pakistan since 1998, and, assuming Pakistan do manage to prove the security situation has improved, Australia would need to postpone a series against India to play the Champions Trophy in October 2009. Hell will freeze over before that happens.



3. Once again the small nations are getting screwed over. Pakistan is not going to play a test this year and the team is going rapidly downhill. Osman Samiuddin has written a great article for Cricinfo about the wider significance of the decision. Assuming the powers that be do find a way to force Australia, England, South Africa etc to play in the Champions Trophy there in 2009, the West Indies will then be forced to host yet another CT in 2010 (I can see the empty stands now). After all that we will then move on to the 2011 World Cup, which will be held in the four Asian nations (security conditions permitting). Do we really need three identical 50 over tournaments in a row? Which lead me on to point four:

4. Why not just use this as an opportunity to get rid of the trophy? What is the point of having a tournament that exactly mimics the World Cup? The ICC’s website gives no clues, stating simply: “The ICC organises a second 50-overs per side event in addition to the ICC Cricket World Cup called the ICC Champions Trophy, which takes place every two years.” Apparently it is officially known as the “ICC knockout”. The ICC could kill the tournament off and use the space created to put a longer 20-20 Champions League in place. Or just give the players a rest, for once.

Anyway, enough depressing blather. South Africa are now 45-5. Broad is the new McGrath. Now I’ve got another reason to be annoyed the Champions Trophy has been postponed: England would clearly have won it!