DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) failed to break the impasse surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 during a virtual board meeting on Friday, leaving the tournament’s fate hanging in the balance.
At the heart of the crisis is India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the high-profile event, a stance that has ignited tensions and complicated decision-making.
The ICC Board meeting was postponed until Saturday without any decision on the fate of the Champions Trophy 2025, various media outlets reported.
A meeting by the Dubai-headquartered ICC was held briefly on Friday but adjourned without a decision, AFP reported citing sources with knowledge of the talks who were not authorised to speak to the media.
“All parties continue to work towards a positive resolution,” said one source cited by AFP, adding that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days”.
Pakistan, who won the last edition of the Champions Trophy staged in England in 2017, will host the February 19-March 9 tournament.
Representing Pakistan, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi firmly rejected proposals for a hybrid hosting model or any compromise on sharing hosting rights.
The PCB reiterated its stance, emphasizing that Pakistan would not host under arrangements allowing Indian matches at neutral venues or relinquishing control to other nations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Friday that Pakistan believes that sports should not be politicized.
“We are going to host the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year, and we hope that all cricket playing nations that qualify for the Champions Trophy will be represented at the Champions Trophy,” the spokesperson said in response to a question during her weekly press briefing.
With no consensus reached, the ICC deferred the matter to another meeting in next few days, as discussions explore scenarios ranging from relocating the entire tournament to a neutral venue to postponement.
The PCB has reportedly asked the ICC to provide a workable solution to the issue before the meeting.
“We remain firm in our position. Pakistan will not agree to a hosting arrangement where another country becomes involved. It is unacceptable for the Pakistani team to travel to India to play matches while the Indian team refuses to come to Pakistan,” the PCB is reported to have told the ICC.
Cricinfo reported that several options are on the table, including playing the mega event in Pakistan without India. However, this scenario is considered highly unlikely due to India’s significant commercial value.
One suggestion under consideration involves a hybrid model, with Pakistan hosting most games while matches involving India are held in a neutral venue.
Other options include relocating the entire event to a neutral venue or postponing it to a later date, a Pakistani news channel reported citing sources.
Indian Politician Supports Sending Team to Pakistan
Indian politician Tejashwi Yadav has said that politics should not be mixed with sports and that the Indian cricket team should travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Taking a jibe at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said, “If the PM can go there to have biryani, why can’t the Indian cricket team travel for a tournament?” ANI, an Indian news agency, quoted Yadav as saying during a media talk.
Shahid Afridi on ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi expressed his strong support for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as it remains firm in its decision to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 entirely in Pakistan.
In a statement via social media, he said that there is a complete uncertainty in international cricket as India politicized the sports.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in February-March 2025, but India has refused to send its team to Pakistan. The PCB has repeatedly rejected the idea of a hybrid model, insisting on hosting the event in Pakistan as planned.
Reports said that the ICC Board meeting is likely to address the concerns of Pakistan and explore possible resolutions. The PCB has made it clear that any decision must uphold fairness and equality.
Will Pakistan attend cricket events in India?
India is also hosting a Women’s World Cup next year, an Asia Cup in 2025, a Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and a Champions Trophy in 2029. Many people including cricket experts are asking whether Pakistan to visit India or not if India did not visit Pakistan for ICC champion trophy.
Cricket experts said that Pakistan should also take a strong stance if India did not visit Pakistan.
Pakistan former captain Rashid Latif also shared a schedule of India hosting cricket events in upcoming seasons.
PAKISTAN FIRM: PCB spoke with the ICC today and candidly told them to present any other option but hybrid. PCB also told ICC that India’s withdrawal without producing government letter is unacceptable.
PCB has thrown the gauntlet. Friday can potentially be a game-changing day for… pic.twitter.com/urq961nXFG— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) November 28, 2024
He also said that PCB told ICC that India’s withdrawal without producing government letter is unacceptable.
Reports say that the PCB has also clarified to the ICC that its national team will not travel to India for upcoming tournaments if the Champions Trophy matches of the Indian team are played at a neutral venue.
Pakistan allocates Rs12.8 billion for revamping stadiums
Pakistan made all preparation to hold the event as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allocated a budget of Rs12.8 billion for the revamping of three stadiums to prepare them for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
According to the PCB’s documents, out of the total cost of revamping the stadiums, Rs7.7bn is earmarked for the Gaddafi Stadium, Rs3.5bn for refurbishing Karachi’s National Bank Stadium while Rs1.5bn is allocated for the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan won hosting rights to the ICC Champions Trophy in November 2021 and, if it goes to plan, it will be the first ICC event they have hosted since the 1996 World Cup.
Data Shows Geopolitics Behind India’s Refusal to Play in Pakistan
Reports said that India is exploiting the situation for political gains as no India team visited Pakistan since 2008. According to statics Pakistan have toured India three times since then, for a bilateral series in 2012-13, the 2016 T20 World Cup and, the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Meanwhile, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Thursday, said that the cricket board would do what’s in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.
“I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m constantly in touch with the ICC chairman, and my team is talking to them constantly. We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know,” he added.
Other options include relocating the event to a neutral venue or postponing it to a later date, some section of media reported.
