India will take part in Champions Trophy 2017, confirms BCCI acting president

After several rounds of deliberations between the BCCI, the ICC and the CoA, the Indian cricket board’s Acting President CK Khanna has confirmed that India will take part in the Champions Trophy 2017. The 15-member squad for the same is likely to be announced on Monday, 8th May, around 20 days before the start of the tournament.

The decision was taken a day before the Special General Meeting (SGM) of the BCCI that was scheduled to be held on Sunday in New Delhi. There have been speculations over Team India defending its Champions Trophy title that they won in 2013.

Following the major BCCI-ICC spat involving revenues, there had been deliberations back and forth, but a full strength team will most likely travel to England, led by Virat Kohli in all probability.

Reports had said that Anil Kumble, the head coach of the Indian team, had wanted the team to participate, despite the BCCI-ICC spat, and his voice was echoed by his former teammates like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan. South African stars David Miller and Hashim Amla had also stated that India’s non-participation would have been a huge loss to the event.

The BCCI has found itself in troubled waters after they were outvoted comprehensively by the other members in the General Body Meeting and has maintained a hostile stance ever since. The all important vote on the controversial ‘Big Three’ financial model didn’t go in BCCI’s favour, and senior officials had hinted on the Indian Team pulling out of the tournament.

The Committee of Administrations (CoA), however, wanted India to the competition, sending out an email to BCCI to pick the squad as soon as possible.The remaining seven teams had already announced their squads before the deadline date i.e. 25th April, barring India who refused to send out the 15-man contingent in time.

India will start their title defence against Pakistan on the 4th of June. Prior to the marquee clash, they have two practice games against New Zealand and Bangladesh. This will be Virat Kohli’s first major ICC event as captain after MS Dhoni stepped down as the limited overs skipper in January. India’s last ODI game was against England in Kolkata in January.

Watch: India winning the 2013 Champions Trophy final against hosts England