The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to meet on Friday to resolve the growing uncertainty over where and how the 2025 Champions Trophy will be hosted. With less than three months until the event’s scheduled start, the board faces three possible options: a hybrid model where most matches are played in Pakistan, except those involving India; the tournament being held entirely outside of Pakistan with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retaining hosting rights; or a fully Pakistan-based event without India.
The last option, which excludes India, is seen as commercially unviable, given the significant financial and viewership losses it would incur. The chances of the hybrid model also appeared slim after a statement from a PCB official on Thursday, confirming that Pakistan had once again rejected the proposal. The official emphasized that the PCB has asked the ICC to provide an “acceptable” alternative before the upcoming board meeting.
However, the hybrid model seemed briefly more likely earlier in the week, when PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi commented cautiously on the issue, saying that the board would accept whatever decision the ICC makes, but only after consulting with the Pakistan government. This is a shift from earlier strong rejections of the hybrid format. Despite this, Naqvi reiterated that Pakistan would not agree to a hybrid model unless the ICC also considers a similar option for tournaments held in India, where the Pakistani team currently faces government restrictions on travel.
A central issue remains whether Pakistan and India will play each other in the Champions Trophy. Both countries are in the same group, but diplomatic tensions make it unlikely they will meet in Pakistan, with a neutral venue or cancellation of the game both being potential outcomes. This would be a major commercial blow to the tournament, which relies on high-profile matchups.
Naqvi also clarified that the PCB would not be motivated by financial gains, refuting rumors that the board might negotiate for a higher hosting fee in exchange for agreeing to the hybrid model. “We will do whatever is best for Pakistan cricket,” he said, emphasizing that the PCB would not sell out its hosting rights for more money.
The ICC’s board meeting will be virtual and could involve a vote if consensus is not reached. The need for a quick resolution is urgent, as preparations for the event must begin immediately. Two major Pakistani venues, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium, are currently undergoing renovations and are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
Pakistan was awarded hosting rights for the 2025 Champions Trophy in November 2021, marking the country’s first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. However, the status of the tournament became complicated earlier this month when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that its government had denied permission for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan. Relations between the two nations have been tense since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and while Pakistan has toured India three times since then, no Indian team has visited Pakistan since 2008.
The PCB had hoped that the Indian team’s participation in the 2023 World Cup, held in India, would lead to a reciprocal gesture for the Champions Trophy, but with the hybrid model now off the table, the future of the event remains uncertain.
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