 "The fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy remains undecided. Image: PCB on X")
The International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting on Champions Trophy 2025 which was scheduled to take place on Saturday was postponed yet again without any final decision , it has been reported. According to Pakistani media houses the meeting on 7 December was postponed due to a lack of response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Earlier, it was reported that the Saturday ICC meeting was set to ratify a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025 where India will play their matches in Dubai after an agreement was reached between the global body, BCCI, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) . The news agency PTI had reported that BCCI was ready to accept PCB’s demand to offer the Pakistan cricket team a similar hybrid model for ICC events in India till 2027.
BCCI appears unwilling to accept PCB’s demand
“It’s been agreed in principle by all parties that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan with India playing its matches in Dubai. It’s a win-win situation for all stakeholders,” an ICC source told news agency PTI.
However, the postponement of the ICC board of directors’ meeting only shows that the BCCI has not yet made up its mind to accept the PCB’s demand. This is understandable as BCCI had reportedly already rejected the ‘partnership’ or ‘fusion’ formula proposed by the PCB which would have allowed the Pakistan team to play its matches in a neutral venue when India hosted the ICC events.
“Sources told The Telegraph on Tuesday that the BCCI has sent a clear message to the ICC brass in this regard leading to a fresh impasse. The BCCI’s contention is simple — there is no security threat in India and hence no question of accepting such an arrangement,” a report in The Telegraph report had stated.
Pakistan’s Geo News on Saturday said that the ICC meeting was postponed because PCB has informed ICC that, “there is no purpose of any meeting until India respond to their demands”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt also added that the PCB wants written assurance from ICC to “avoid complications” in the future.
“The PCB wants assurance from the ICC, not the BCCI, that the hybrid model will be implemented without issues,” a source told Geo News. “Everything must be documented to avoid future complications.”
The recent development has only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, with no quick resolution in sight.