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With the talks around the Champions Trophy 2025 intensifying, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of its decision. With the PCB standing firm on its decision to host the tournament entirely in Pakistan, rather than moving it to hybrid model, the ICC recently gave an ultimatum to PCB, stating that the tournament should be moved to a hybrid model.
After the ongoing meeting after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed of its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the marquee tournament, the ICC informed PCB that either the tournament will move to a hybrid model or will be conducted without Pakistan. The apex board tried to convince PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi, advising to accept the hybrid model as the only “plausible solution”.
ICC takes stern step towards PCB to accept hybrid model for Champions Trophy
It is to be noted that if the hybrid model is accepted, India is set to play all its matches in the UAE, however, the ball currently lies in PCB’s court after ICC’s stern call. “Look, no broadcaster will give a penny to an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC meeting on Saturday will only happen if Mr Mohsin Naqvi agrees with the ‘Hybrid Model’,” an ICC Board source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“If not, then ICC Board might have to shift the tournament entirely to a different country (could be UAE too) but it will be held without Pakistan,” he further added. After Friday’s meeting, which saw Imran Khawaja taking the chair in absence of Greg Barclay, saw PCB Chairman stay adamant on his decision. “All parties continue to work towards a positive resolution for the Champions Trophy 2025 and it is expected that the Board will reconvene on Saturday and continue to meet over the next few days,” a senior administrator of an ICC full member nation told PTI.
MEA firm on BCCI’s decision on Team India’s travel to Pakistan for CT 2025
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated BCCI’s stand that the Indian team cannot travel to Pakistan due to security reasons. “BCCI has issued a statement. They have said that there are security concerns there and it is therefore unlikely that the team will be going there,” an MEA spokesperson said in a routine briefing when the discussion of Champions Trophy came.
Speaking of the Champions trophy 2025, the tournament is set to mark its return since it was last played in 2017 in England. The 2025 edition of the tournament is set to be played in Pakistan from February 19 till March 9. However, the ICC is yet to announce the schedule of the upcoming marquee tournament with the ongoing discussions underway with the PCB.
