- No agreement has been reached between the PCB and BCCI on the ‘hybrid’ format.
- The ICC is still unable to announce the schedule for this event.
- Under the hybrid model, the Pakistan-India match will be played in Dubai.
The saga of next year’s Cricket Champions Trophy continues, with sources saying on Thursday that no agreement has been reached on a proposed “hybrid” format that would allow India to play its matches outside host nation Pakistan.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, and this rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
The eight-team tournament hit a snag last month when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that their team would not compete in Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions.
Sources spoke on condition of anonymity Agence France-Presse The PCB has approved the hybrid model – but on the condition that every ICC tournament played in India until 2027 follows the same format, with Pakistan not going to India.
Under the hybrid model, Pakistan will host the group matches, but their high-profile clash with India will be held in Dubai.
The final will be held in Dubai or Lahore depending on whether the Indian side qualifies or not.
The sources said that the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry objects to the condition of reciprocity regarding hosting it and to the proposal to hold the final in Lahore if India does not qualify.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in Dubai, where the ICC is based, to finalize the arrangements, the sources said.
The standoff means the ICC is still unable to announce the schedule for the event, which will be held from February 19 to March 19.
The arch rivals only meet in multinational events organized by the ICC, with the last bilateral series being held when Pakistan toured India in 2012-13.
India last toured Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008 and have not played a bilateral series across the border in 18 years.
Pakistan also had to host the Asia Cup last year in a mixed format, with Sri Lanka hosting India’s matches and the final.
India is scheduled to co-host the next Twenty20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026 in addition to the Champions Trophy in 2029, and will also co-host the 2031 World Cup with Bangladesh.
In the past few years, Pakistan has hosted the best teams in the world, emerging from the cricketing isolation that began after an armed attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 in Lahore.
Pakistan has not hosted an ICC event since the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.