Former chairman asks Pakistan Cricket Board to act 'wisely' and avoid 'pushing itself out of ICC': 'Don’t think emotionally'

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has warned the country’s cricket body against reaching the point of no return which can harm the sport significantly in the nation. PCB is currently engaged in a battle with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. While Pakistan are the original hosts, BCCI’s refusal to send the Team India due to security issues has created a massive stumbling block.

Considering the financial might Team India commands and the revenue their matches generate, it’s going to be very difficult for the Champions Trophy to be hosted without them, however, Pakistan are reportedly not ready to compromise and host the tournament on a ‘Hybrid Model,’ in fact, some reports have also stated that they can even boycott the tournament if Champions Trophy is hosted outside Pakistan.

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Najam Sethi, who led PCB last year and was the mastermind behind the Hybrid Model that saw India play their matches in Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup 2023 and not in original hosts Pakistan, feels that Pakistan are now cornered as the International Cricket Council (ICC) are left with very little options due to BCCI’s refusal to send its teams and PCB’s strong stand. Sethi can only see a few solutions to the current problem – a Hybrid Model or hosting the Champions Trophy outside Pakistan.

“ICC has very few options,” Sethi told Pakistan’s ‘Samaa TV’. “One, India comes to play, which they will not. They refused for kabaddi, also blind cricket. Earlier, kabaddi teams used to come, similarly tennis players came for Davis Cup before. Players use to come for blind cricket also. This time they (India) have taken a hard line, not just on cricket but on other things (sports) as well. So I think there is something serious here. In that case, it could be a hybrid model, with some matches played in Pakistan and India’s matches held elsewhere.”

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‘ICC will always side with India’

Sethi noted that moving the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan is an option available to the ICC. He added that the global body will “always side” with the BCCI due to its popularity, but warned that such a move could lead to a political crisis, given Pakistan’s strong stance, and significantly impact the PCB’s financial health.

“The second option is that if the hybrid model is not acceptable to Pakistan, then the ICC moves the entire tournament to another country. Then, what options will Pakistan have? Either they will say ‘we boycott the Champions Trophy’ or they agree to play at another venue. But after having rejected a hybrid model, will they consider playing in another country? I think that will be a difficult situation for Pakistan…It may turn into a big issue in political circles,” said Sethi.

“I will tell you one thing. ICC will always side with India. Remember this. Now, if they move the tournament to Sri Lanka or Dubai, and Pakistan doesn’t participate, then it will cost the ICC and also India & Pakistan because the ICC revenues are distributed in a portion. Major portion goes to India and the fourth portion goes to Pakistan.

“It doesn’t bother India much. They (BCCI) are very rich. But it matters a lot for Pakistan if their revenues drop. That will be another issue for Pakistan.”

Sethi asks PCB to act ‘wisely’

Sethi also advised Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB against isolating itself to the point of potentially withdrawing from ICC tournaments, as these events are crucial for financial sustainability. He emphasised that decision-makers should act “wisely and not emotionally”.

“If you have rejected a hybrid model after India refused to come and also rejected playing in another country, then you won’t play in the future ICC events also. So you are basically going to push yourself out of the ICC. And if you do that, then what will remain besides bilateral cricket? You don’t make much money in bilateral cricket because it is reciprocal,” the former administrator said.

“Whoever is making these decisions, they should think what is its logic? India knows its logic behind the boycott; they can sustain it. They have done it before…ICC will then be compelled. But what will Pakistan do?…So my advice is that whoever is making the decisions should think wisely and not emotionally.”

As per the original schedule, the Champions Trophy will be hosted in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March. This is the first time Pakistan will be hosting an ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup.