It is learnt that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is looking out for options of the nations in the similar time zone to host the tournament, which was last hosted by England last year. “The Board expressed their concern around the absence of a tax exemption from the Indian Government for ICC events held in India despite ongoing efforts from both the ICC and BCCI to secure the exemption which is standard practice for major sporting events around the world,” said ICC in a media release.

“The Board agreed that ICC management, supported by the BCCI will continue the dialogue with the Indian Government but in the meantime directed ICC management to explore alternative host countries in a similar time zone for the ICC Champions Trophy 2021,” added cricket’s governing body.

India had last hosted an ICC event in 2016 – ICC World Twenty20. However, then India did not get a tax exemption from the government. ICC’s latest decision to search for an alternative venue for the ICC Champions Trophy 2021 though has not really gone down well with the Indian cricket board. It is learnt that the BCCI feels ICC is pressurising the Indian government and the ICC may regret taking a decision which may harm BCCI’s interest.

“The ICC should be cognizant of the fact that it was under the presidentship of Mr. Shashank Manohar that the IPL was shifted by BCCI to South Africa in 2009. The comment made by him then, that the IPL was shifted out due to the attitude of the Indian government, was made against the will of the BCCI’s Working Committee and was one of many blunders of Mr. Manohar that cost the BCCI deeply. It would be another blunder by another organisation being headed by the same man to unnecessarily rub the Indian government the wrong way, especially after the support that the government extended during the conduct of the ICC World T20 in 2016,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“The general body of the BCCI shall examine the Member Participation Agreement very carefully before considering to execute it. The day is not far where the Hon’ble Supreme Court shall give finality to the litigation pending before the Hon’ble Court and from that day onwards the ICC and other member boards will have to deal with the elected representative of the BCCI at the ICC with the full force of the Board supporting him/her to protect the best interest of Indian cricket,” added the report.