The broadcasters are running out of time to promote the event to get maximum returns.
There are no signs of a statement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Champions Trophy 2025 hybrid model issue, and it has become very difficult for the ICC to come to a final resolution with just 75 days to go for the tournament.
Pakistan is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February 19 to March 9 in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. It has invested a huge sum of money in renovating all three grounds and expects a huge return as it hosts its first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
However, BCCI confirmed to the ICC that the Indian team will not be traveling to Pakistan for the tournament and requested a hybrid model for the event, with India’s matches being played at a neutral venue, probably Dubai.
This has led to an impasse between BCCI and PCB, as Pakistan is adamant about hosting the tournament in its entirety. It will accept the hybrid model only if future ICC events hosted by India are also played in a similar manner, with Pakistan’s games being played at a neutral venue.
However, reports indicated that India rejected what PCB called a ‘fusion’ formula, citing no security issues in India to mandate such an arrangement.
While an ICC meeting was scheduled for December, it was postponed due to differences on the way forward. As per a report, tthe delay could result in the Champions Trophy being a T20 tournament rather than the traditional ODI format.
The BCCI stance also appears to have the backing of broadcasters, whose investments based on are territory-specific India games. To elaborate the point, broadcasters can argue that their financial commitments were based on a specific number of Indian games, the biggest revenue generators in world cricket, which yield better returns when played in India.
"The 90-day deadline has passed, and broadcasters are under pressure to effectively market the tournament. If the impasse remains, certain stakeholders may rekindle efforts to change the Champions Trophy into a T20 format that is easier and faster to market than the ODIs, which are rapidly losing relevance," Cricbuzz report stated.
The Pakistan Cricket Board may suffer revenue losses, lawsuits, and worldwide alienation if it withdraws from the ICC Champions Trophy due to a deadlock over how to organize the 50-over event, which is set for February-March next year.
A senior cricket administrator here, who is familiar with the organization of ICC events, told PTI on Wednesday that withdrawing would be a difficult option for the PCB if the hybrid model is not fully embraced by the ICC and BCCI.
"Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but like all other participating nations in the event, it has also signed a mandatory Members' Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC. It is only after a member nation signs the MPA for playing in an ICC event that it is eligible to get a share of revenues earned from ICC events.
Most importantly when the ICC signed a broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC members are available to play in their events including the Champions Trophy," the administrator explained.
It remains to be seen how the ICC solves this puzzle with only a few days left for the Champions Trophy 2025 to begin.
(PTI inputs)