The next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for 2021, and India has been selected as the venue for the same. However, the supreme governing body of cricket is now searching for an alternative venue to conduct this world tournament. The reason is not Pakistan, who are the defending champions, and will be participating but tax exemption.
According to the rules, during any major sporting event, the governing body receives tax exemptions from the host government. However, ICC has failed to avail the same so far which has compelled them to look for another country in a similar time zone.
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According to several media reports, in a recently released statement, the ICC said,
“In other matters, 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.”
“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,” the statement further said.
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Though BCCI has been trying their best to convince ICC, the council has continued to search for another option stating that failure of tax exemption from the Indian government would result in a loss of about $100-125 million. The final decision of an alternative venue will only be taken in the next 12-16 months.
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India last hosted this tournament in 2006, when West Indies became the winner after defeating Australia by 2 wickets in a nail-biting affair. After 2013, the next edition of the champions trophy held in England and Wales in June 2017 where India failed to retain the title and lost to Pakistan by a huge margin of 180 runs.
