The 2021 ICC Champions Trophy was set to be hosted by India. Now, however, it seems as though there is a chance for the tournament to not take place in the country. Apparently, there is an issue between Board of Cricket Control in India and the Indian government about tax exemption, something which could cause the tournament to be shifted to some other country.

“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,” ICC added.

While the ICC are searching for an alternate venue with a similar time zone, BCCI aren’t entirely happy with the ICC for issuing a statement conveying the earlier message. They believe that the ICC are pressuring the BCCI and are showing the Indian government in a bad light, making moves that could harm the BCCI.

 “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.

In what could be seen as a threat from the BCCI, the source further added that the day isn’t far when the ICC will have to face a BCCI representative that would work for the best of the Indian cricket.

“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.