KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to hold a virtual meeting on Friday to deliberate on the future of the 2025 Cricket Champions Trophy, which is clouded by uncertainty after India refused to travel to Pakistan.
Reliable sources said Geographic News He added that several options are on the table, including holding the tournament in Pakistan without India. However, this scenario is considered highly unlikely due to India’s great trade value.
Although rare, there are precedents in sports where teams or units have been replaced due to an inability to participate in events hosted by certain countries. For example, the 1980 Moscow Olympics were held without several countries participating. However, the ICC’s decision-making process may differ significantly from that of the IOC.
One proposal under consideration involves a hybrid model, where Pakistan would host most of the matches while the matches involving India would be played at a neutral venue, most likely in the UAE.
Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board said the PCB had already rejected the hybrid model but an ICC source insisted it could continue as an option. If such a model is proposed, the PCB is expected to insist that no Pakistan matches, including the group match against India, be played outside Pakistan.
The ICC source confirmed that the tournament without the Pakistan-India match is unlikely to gain momentum.
Other options include moving the entire event to a neutral location or postponing it to a later date. In addition, there is speculation that in order to pressure Pakistan to soften its stance, the ICC may propose stripping Pakistan of hosting rights altogether, a move which the Program Coordination Board is expected to strongly oppose.
The Program Coordination Board has formally asked the ICC to submit detailed and implementable proposals before Friday’s meeting. It also reiterated its request for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to submit its position in writing, along with reasons and evidence supporting India’s refusal to tour.
Another source confirmed that the PCB has informed the ICC that it cannot accept the hybrid model.
Late on Wednesday, Pakistan Cricket Club Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where he assured stakeholders that he would stand up for what is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket. He also rejected the idea of abandoning Pakistan’s long-standing stance against financial compensation for hosting rights.