The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the hybrid model is the only viable solution for the Champions Trophy 2025, following the Indian government’s refusal to permit its team to travel to Pakistan. This development came during an ICC Board meeting on Friday, November 19.
The PCB, however, remains steadfast in its position, rejecting the hybrid model and insisting that all matches be held in Pakistan. In response, the ICC made it clear that such an arrangement would not be feasible due to the current political climate. The PCB has requested additional time to consult with the Pakistani government, with the ICC Board scheduled to reconvene on Saturday, November 30.
Despite the deadlock, sources suggest that the PCB is likely to accept the hybrid model after discussions with the government. If this happens, it could resolve the issue and allow Pakistan to retain partial hosting rights for the tournament.
Current Stand-off and Potential Scenarios
The ICC’s proposal involves a hybrid model where India’s matches, along with one semi-final and the final, would be played in Dubai, while the remaining games would take place in Pakistan. This model would allow the PCB to maintain some hosting rights.
However, if the PCB continues to reject this model, the ICC could vote against Pakistan’s stance, and hosting rights could be shifted to a third country. In the worst-case scenario, if the PCB remains inflexible, Pakistan could boycott the tournament altogether.
The announcement of the Champions Trophy schedule was originally planned for November 11, but the ongoing dispute between the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has caused significant delays.
Background and Historical Context
Pakistan was awarded the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025 in November 2021. In preparation, the PCB began renovating three of its stadiums earlier this year. However, the current political situation in Pakistan, including violent protests in Islamabad, has raised concerns about security. Recently, Sri Lanka’s A team was forced to cut short its series in Pakistan due to these protests.
This is not the first time the hybrid model has been used. Last year, Pakistan agreed to host the Asia Cup in a hybrid format after India refused to travel to Pakistan. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13, and the last time India visited Pakistan for cricket was in 2008 for the Asia Cup.
The Champions Trophy is a prestigious eight-team tournament featuring the top eight teams in the ICC ODI Rankings. Pakistan won the last edition of the tournament, defeating India in the final at The Oval in London.
