LONDON – As excitement builds towards the start of the ICC Champions Trophy on 1 June, Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium and the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) have announced a special cricket match between the fans of India and Pakistan.
With Edgbaston hosting the Group B fixture between India and Pakistan, as one of five ICC Champions Trophy matches, the supporters of both teams will contest the Edgbaston Fans Trophy on Monday 15 May at the nearby Attock Cricket Club.
What’s more, the Edgbaston Fans Trophy is one of the designated stops on the Nissan Trophy Tour, giving all spectators in attendance a chance to have their photo taken with two of the most coveted trophies in world cricket, the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup.
Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “Edgbaston is proud to be an ICC Champions Trophy host venue for the third time and stage, what are arguably, the biggest games of the group stages.
“There’s a huge amount of excitement building in the local community about our five matches, especially India versus Pakistan, which will be played here at Edgbaston; India won in the last meeting here in 2013 whilst Pakistan took the spoils in 2004.
“The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy meeting between the two nations will be one of the biggest sporting events of the year and the Edgbaston Fans Trophy will be a celebration of this upcoming fixture, uniting supporters through the true spirit of the cricket.”
India vs Pakistan is one of one of five marquee fixtures in the ICC Champions Trophy to be taking place at Edgbaston, with Australia v New Zealand (2 June), Pakistan v South Africa (7 June), England v Australia (10 June) and a semi-final also taking place in Birmingham.
Gulfraz Riaz, Chairman of the NACC, said: “The NACC is delighted to see that this year’s Edgbaston Fans Trophy is being played between two of the most passionate groups of cricket fans in the world.
“Just like last year’s game, the day promises to be a great occasion, celebrating the ICC Champions Trophy and ultimately having a fun packed day where cricket is the winner.
“Cricket embraces and promotes all that is great about integrating different communities, on and off the pitch, and I look forward to a well spirited match and urge fans from all communities to come and support what promises to be a great event.”
This year’s match between India and Pakistan Fans will be the second Edgbaston Fans Trophy contest to take place at Attock CC, following a match in 2016 between Pakistan Fans and a Barmy Army team representing England fans.
Naz Khan, Chairman of Attock CC, said: “We are honoured once again to host the Edgbaston Fans Trophy at Attock Cricket Club. With a great summer of cricket ahead, this match will be the start of an exciting festival cricket that we are all looking forward to.”-Online
