If reports are to be believed, then the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are consulting the Pakistan government over India’s refusal to travel to the country for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, might withdraw from the tournament altogether.
The 8-team tournament is set to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9 next year. The host cities are Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. This is the first big ICC event that Pakistan will get to host after the 1996 World Cup, that it jointly hosted with India and Sri Lanka.
As per PTI, since they have only been informed by the ICC that India will not be traveling to Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will ask the ICC for clarification on hosting the Champions Trophy. They have not heard anything regarding the hybrid model that has been suggested.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has already stated that Pakistan won't accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. India may play their matches at a neutral location if the hybrid format is approved.
"There is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a Hybrid Model system as of now," a reliable PCB source said.
During the Asia Cup last year, a hybrid model was used, with India's matches taking place in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted 4 matches.
"An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision. As of now, the entire situation is being gauged by the PCB. No decision has been taken on the next step. Yes the PCB is in touch with the government for consultation and directives if required," the source added.
A report in Dawn News claimed that since India is refusing to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, it has been decided that until the two nations' differences are settled at the governmental level, the Pakistani government may also request that the Pakistan team declines to play India in any ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) competitions going forward.
"In such a case, one of the options the government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan doesn’t participate in the Champions Trophy," Dawn quoted a source as saying.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012. Since then, the two countries have faced off in the Asia Cup and ICC competitions. In 2016 and 2023, Pakistan traveled to India for the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, respectively.
(Dawn and PTI inputs)
