The Champions Trophy 2025 continues to be in limbo as the ICC Board's meeting with broadcasters Star Sports, to discuss the operational modalities of hosting the tournament in 'Hybrid Model' and prospective schedule, has been postponed to Saturday (December 7), news agency PTI reported.
According to the report, BCCI joint secretary Devajit Lon Saikia represented India in the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday (December 5).
The report also claimed that former BCCI secretary Jay Shah visited the ICC headquarters for the first time as the global body's chairperson.
Shah interacted with the Board of Directors which included Bangladesh's Faruque Ahmed, New Zealand's Roger Twose, ICC chief executive officer Geoff Allardice, deputy chair Imran Khwaja, Zimbabwe's Tavengwa Mukuhlani, UAE's Mubashshir Usmani, Sri Lanka's Shammi Silva, Dr. Mohammed Abdul Samad Moosajee of South Africa and Malaysia's Mahinda Vallipuram. They were all present in Dubai.
While the representatives from England and Wales Cricket, Cricket Australia and Cricket West Indies weren't present in person, no one came from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
As per the report, the meet and greet session was a platform for all the like-minded cricket boards to pledge their support for the 'Hybrid Model' to the new ICC chairman.
It is learnt that majority of the board members are going to reject the PCB’s demands of a 'Fusion Model'. Moreover, no assurances will be given to Pakistan about the upcoming ICC events in India being held under the 'Hybrid Model'.
The only demand of PCB that might be fulfilled is of extra compensation. The broadcasters have reportedly given it in writing that the Champions Trophy without India is a non-starter and the marquee India versus Pakistan group match is also non-negotiable for them because of the revenue it generates.
(With PTI Inputs)