Amid the Champions Trophy 2025 deadlock between the BCCI and PCB, former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has suggested that no India versus Pakistan matches should be scheduled in multi-nation tournaments until bilateral cricket between the two countries resumes.

Notably, India have refused to travel across the border for the Champions Trophy citing security concerns while Pakistan have expressed reluctance to adopt a hybrid model.

Akmal highlighted the need for a long-term solution, suggesting that if a hybrid model is imposed for the Champions Trophy, the same should apply to ICC events hosted in India.

“The ICC has to make a decision sometime, and I think this is the right time to find a permanent solution. If this Champions Trophy adopts a hybrid model with India not coming to Pakistan, then all other ICC events in India should adopt the same pattern with Pakistan not touring India,” Akmal told Telecom Asia Sport in an interview.

“In my opinion, another solution is that the ICC should not schedule Indo-Pak matches until and unless there is a bilateral series. Once they start playing each other, then only we should have matches in a multi-national event," he added.

Akmal also vented out his frustration over the ongoing standoff as he said, “I am disappointed to see such a scenario, but enough is enough as Pakistan have toured India despite one 2016 World Cup match shifted from Dharamshala to Kolkata, and then Pakistan played in Ahmedabad last year despite reservations.”

“Pakistan will have to take a strong decision and stick to it. That will help Pakistan create a good image,” he further stated.

Akmal was also critical of India’s stance on not touring Pakistan while expecting the rival team to play in their country.

“On one hand, they don’t want to play us in Pakistan on political issues, but on the other hand, they play us in their country, and that is a double standard,” said Akmal.

The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have been fraught with political and security issues since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

While the arch-rivals last played a limited-overs series in 2012, their last meeting in Tests was way back in 2007. In this period, they've only clashed in multi-nation tournaments such as the World Cup and the Asia Cup.

Notably, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but India played all of their matches in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.