Courtesy: X
The Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Richard Thompson, spoke about how organising the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan without India isn’t an option. The leadership group of the ECB, who are in Pakistan ahead of the ICC meeting in the UAE, also stated that the broadcasting rights of the upcoming tournament needs to be protected, and it can only happen with the involvement of both India and Pakistan.
Notably, India haven’t played international cricket in Pakistan since 2008, while the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches are due to happen in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi currently. Due to the strained political relationships between both the nations, the Asia Cup 2023 was organised as per the hybrid model wherein India didn’t need to play any of their tournament matches in Pakistan, despite the latter being one of the hosts.
It would not be in cricket's interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy: ECB Chairman
In a report from ESPNcricinfo, ECB Chairman Richard Thompson remarked that BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will have a huge role in ensuring how the Champions Trophy gets organised next year. He said, “It would not be in cricket's interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy. It's interesting, Jay Shah is going to have a big role to play in that. There's geopolitics, and then there's cricketing geopolitics. I think they'll find a way. They have to find a way.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ECB, Richard Gould, alluded to broadcasting being the big revenue stream for cricket, which is why there is a need for India and Pakistan to feature in the Champions Trophy next year. He was quoted as saying, “If you play the Champions Trophy without India, or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them.”
Richard Gould also remarked that there are different alternatives and contingencies available to the ICC in terms of hosting the Champions Trophy 2025, indirectly pointing out at the potential utilisation of the hybrid model. He said, “They [Pakistan] are the host nation. We've seen the developments going on, and we're all waiting to understand whether India are going to travel. That's the key. We think there are some discussions and relationships where they need to be. I know Pakistan are expecting India to travel. There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn't happen.”
