Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan ready to accept hybrid model in Champions Trophy
The Pakistan Cricket Board has told the International Cricket Council that it is ready to accept the hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy if the same policy is adopted for ICC events in India. Apart from this, the Pakistan Board also wants a higher share in the annual revenue cycle for accepting this model.
Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan ready to accept hybrid model in Champions Trophy
PCB is ready to accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, but for this Pakistan has put a condition before the ICC. Pakistan said that if the policy of hybrid model is adopted in ICC events, then the board is ready to accept the hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
A top PCB source told news agency PTI that the Pakistan board also wants a higher share in the annual revenue cycle to accept this model. 'The current situation is that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that he will accept hosting the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model only if the board agrees that all future ICC tournaments will be held on this system and Pakistan will not travel to India to play matches.'
Pakistan's condition before ICC-
Condition number 1- All matches of India should be held in Dubai:
PCB says that all matches of India should be held in Dubai, including group stage, semi-final and final (if they qualify).
Condition No.2 – Backup Hosting in Lahore
The PCB says that if India fails to progress beyond the group stage in this tournament, then Pakistan should get the right to host the semi-final and final matches in Lahore.
Condition No. 3 - Pakistan will not play in India:
The PCB has requested that if India hosts an ICC tournament in the future, then Pakistan's matches will be played at neutral venues (hybrid model).
The announcement of the Champions Trophy schedule has been delayed due to a venue dispute between the BCCI and the PCB. As per the draft schedule, the tournament is scheduled to begin on February 19, but the final dates have not been announced yet. According to the report, the dispute is now expected to be resolved in the next few days after the ICC considers Pakistan's fresh demands. Jay Shah may take over as the new ICC chairman on December 1.
India to host three ICC events:
It is worth noting that India has to host three ICC tournaments by 2031. The T20 World Cup to be jointly held with Sri Lanka in 2026, the Champions Trophy to be held in 2029 and the ODI World Cup to be jointly held with Bangladesh in 2031. The Women's ODI World Cup 2025 is also scheduled to be held in India and this too could be the subject of another dispute.
The hybrid model was proposed by the BCCI when the Indian team refused to tour Pakistan. Also, the BCCI had said that the final decision on the team's tour to Pakistan will be taken by the Government of India. Citing security crisis due to political disputes between the two countries, the BCCI has refused to tour.
