 "The ICC has given PCB an ultimatum to accept the hybrid model proposal for the 2025 Champions Trophy. PTI image")
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), urging the PCB to accept the proposed hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan are scheduled to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, but India’s refusal to travel to the country and Pakistan’s reluctance to accept the hybrid model have raised questions over next year’s tournament.
An ICC board meeting was to take place virtually on Friday, but the meeting only reportedly lasted less than 15 minutes before being rescheduled for Saturday .
Champions Trophy 2025 | What to expect in ICC’s board meeting rescheduled for Saturday
PCB advised to accept hybrid model
According to a report in PTI, while a majority of the ICC’s board members were sympathetic towards the situation Pakistan are in, the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been advised to accept the hybrid model nonetheless. India are likely to play their matches in the UAE if the hybrid model is accepted.
“Look, no broadcaster will give a penny to an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC meeting on Saturday will only happen if Mr Mohsin Naqvi agrees with the ‘Hybrid Model’,” an ICC Board source told PTI. “If not, then ICC Board might have to shift the tournament entirely to a different country (could be UAE too) but it will be held without Pakistan,” added the source.
The meeting on Friday was headed by deputy chairman Imran Khawaja in the absence of outgoing chairman Greg Barclay due to reasons that have not been specified. Mohsin Naqvi stood his ground with his stance against the hybrid model. “All parties continue to work towards a positive resolution for the Champions Trophy 2025 and it is expected that the Board will reconvene on Saturday and continue to meet over the next few days,” an ICC Full Member’s senior administrator, also part of the board, told PTI.
The Ministry of External Affairs also clarified their stance of not opting to send the Indian team to Pakistan. “BCCI has issued a statement. They have said that there are security concerns there and it is therefore unlikely that the team will be going there,” said an MEA spokesperson. Despite it being a virtual meeting, Naqvi travelled to Dubai to attend the ICC board meeting.
Impact Shorts
View AllBCCI secretary Jay Shah, who will take over as ICC chairman from 1 December, attended the meeting online. Should PCB be relieved of hosting rights for the 2025 Champions Trophy, the PCB will have to give up their hosting fee of $6 million as well as the gate revenue.
PCB’s annual revenue could also take a hit of up to $35 million. The only available dates for the tournament is between 19 February and 9 March as the remaining teams taking part in the tournament will have bilateral series engagements after the tournament.
And if the tournament was to be rescheduled, official broadcasters Star will have to renegotiate the mega deal with the ICC. On the other hand, should the tournament go ahead with the hybrid model, the PCB would be eligible to negotiate a heavy compensation as they would share the tournament’s hosting rights. The 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to take place in India next year, and although Pakistan can ask for a hybrid model for that tournament, it could be a long shot.
“Look, they can ask for Hybrid Model for 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup but that will be a long shot. As far as the men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s matches will be in Sri Lanka mostly,” a senior BCCI official said. “The India vs Pakistan can be decided later,” he added.
India have not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they travelled to the country for the Asia Cup. Pakistan, however, have travelled to India thrice since then. The Men in Green toured India in 2012 for a limited-overs bilateral series, then in 2016 for the T20 World Cup and in 2023 for the ODI World Cup.