Pakistan Rejects Hybrid Model for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Amid India Travel Dispute
Pakistan’s cricket authorities have firmly rejected a proposed “hybrid model” for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, asserting that the tournament must be held in its entirety on Pakistani soil. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the idea of relocating India’s fixtures to a neutral venue is “unacceptable,” a PCB source revealed to Al Jazeera.
Scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025, the eight-team men’s tournament has faced logistical challenges due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan. The ICC has planned a virtual meeting of its board members on Friday to discuss the tournament’s future and the ongoing standoff between the two South Asian rivals.
As part of efforts to resolve the issue, the ICC proposed a hybrid model, which would see all of India’s matches moved to a neutral location. However, ahead of the meeting, the PCB made it clear that this proposal would not be accepted. “The PCB has told the ICC that the hybrid model is not acceptable,” the anonymous source said. “We have also requested the ICC to explore alternative solutions. It is unacceptable for India to back out of the event in Pakistan.”
In addition to its stance on the Champions Trophy, the PCB has warned that it will adopt a reciprocal approach in future tournaments held in India. “Until India agrees to play in Pakistan, our teams will not travel to India,” the PCB source added. India is scheduled to host the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, in partnership with Sri Lanka.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reaffirmed the board’s position, stating that “the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan.” Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi made it clear that the PCB would not accept any financial compensation in exchange for agreeing to the hybrid model or relocating the tournament. “How can it be fair that we always travel to India, but they don’t come to Pakistan?” Naqvi said. “Everything must be on equal terms, and we have made our stance very clear to the ICC.”
The PCB also presented its security plan for the Champions Trophy to the ICC on October 21, and no objections were raised. However, the tournament’s schedule was delayed after the BCCI informed the ICC of the Indian government’s decision to prohibit the national team from traveling to Pakistan.
For years, India’s government has prevented the national cricket team from visiting Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries. Since 2008, India has only faced Pakistan at multi-team events, and bilateral series have not taken place.
The PCB has written to the ICC requesting a copy of the BCCI’s concerns about traveling to Pakistan and has sought guidance from the Pakistani government on how to proceed. “We will do whatever the government says,” Naqvi added.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will be Pakistan’s first ICC men’s tournament since it co-hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan also hosted the 2023 Asia Cup, but India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka due to its government’s travel restrictions. Despite this, Pakistan played all its matches in India during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
