ICC Ultimatum To Pakistan On Champions Trophy: Accept Hybrid Model Or Forego Right To Host

Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally put its foot down and told Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model as India made it amply clear several days ago that they won’t be travelling across the border to play their matches.

If Pakistan still stick to their stand on staging all matches in their country, the ICC will be forced to move the prestigious tournament to a different country, reported India Today.

With time running out — Champions Trophy is scheduled in February-March 2025 — the ICC had convened an emergency meeting of its executive board on Friday.

But no consensus could be reached as PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who attended the meeting in person, insisted that the ‘hybrid’ model was not acceptable to them.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, who will take charge as ICC chairman on December 1, was present online, and remained firm on the decision not to play any games in Pakistan.

The ICC, which had been trying to convince PCB to accept a hybrid formula wherein India’s matches can be held in a neutral country, ran out of patience and issued Pakistan an ultimatum.

It was learnt that PCB has taken a day’s time to convey its decision — whether to accept a hybrid model or risk foregoing hosting the championship.

ICC will almost certainly take a call on Saturday, if Pakistan remain stubborn.

“The ICC Board did meet briefly today. 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,” a senior administrator of an ICC full member nation, who is also a part of the Board, told PTI.

No global tournament can practically take place without the participation of India, which has the richest cricket board.

Hence, a hybrid model is the only plausible solution if Pakistan are to host it.

They have been stubborn so far, but will have to forego their hosting fee of $6 million along with gate revenue if the tournament is taken out of Pakistan.

There is no other window available for the tournament except for the earmarked period between February 19 and March 9, as the IPL will be held soon after the Champions Trophy and some participating nations have bilateral engagements also.

So Pakistan may have to finally buckle under pressure, unless they decide to boycott the Champions Trophy.