Champions Trophy 2025: PCB agrees to hybrid model, India Will Play In Dubai
PCB agreed for the hybrid model finally, India will play it’s matches in Dubai.
Champions Trophy 2025: After much deliberation and a prolonged standoff, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally agreed to the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, proposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed this development on Friday, December 13. This is a significant step forward in resolving the logistical and political challenges surrounding the tournament’s venue arrangements.
The Hybrid Model in Champions Trophy 2025: India’s Matches in Dubai
Under the hybrid model agreed upon, the 8-team tournament will take most of its games to Pakistan. However, since India and Pakistan are still politically embroiled, all matches of the Indian team will be held in Dubai.
The hybrid model allows the tournament to take place largely in Pakistan while ensuring that India’s games, as well as any potential semi-finals and finals involving the Indian team, will be held in Dubai. This arrangement reflects a pragmatic compromise, given the complex political relations between the two nations.
This decision ends the long stalemate between PCB and BCCI, both of whom have faced significant problems in securing a resolution. Where PCB had initially sought to be the sole host of the event, BCCI made it amply clear that it would participate in the tournament only if it was held in a neutral location or when the Indian government gave the team the go-ahead to visit Pakistan. Since the Indian government did not provide this approval, the BCCI proposed the hybrid model to the PCB, which has now been accepted.
No additional compensation for PCB in Champions Trophy 2025
There are also some concessions to be had in resolving the hosting issue. Even though it has lost the rights to the exclusive hosting of the event, the PCB is not getting any more money as compensation for losing that status. Speculation has been that Pakistan might host a major ICC women’s event after the conclusion of the current FTP cycle in 2027, thus providing the PCB with an opportunity to host a significant international tournament in the future.
Political and Logistical Challenges
Politically, the reality check of India and Pakistan were factors that led to this end result. The refusal by the government of India to permit the national side to travel to Pakistan, due to security and diplomacy, was a very good part of the overall solution of this case.
This resulted in the BCCI putting forward the hybrid model that was meant to allow the tournament to go on, keeping in mind the sensibilities of both countries. The PCB and the ICC’s decision to accept this model opens the doors for the tournament to go ahead without further delays.
Defending Champions Pakistan Set to Host the Champions Trophy 2025 Tournament
Pakistan, the champion of the Champions Trophy 2025, will be eyeing another title as the tournament begins. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be the first edition since the one held in England and Wales back in 2017. In the final of that edition, Pakistan shocked India by winning by a massive margin of 180 runs. It was their first-ever Champions Trophy title.
It will be interesting to see if the host nation can defend its title and build on the success it achieved in 2017 when the 2025 edition takes place in Pakistan. The tournament promises to be a highly competitive affair, with the world’s top cricketing nations vying for supremacy. The hybrid model, though unusual, will ensure the smooth conduct of the event and allow fans from both India and Pakistan to witness the drama of the Champions Trophy.
As the tournament approaches, the spotlight will now be on preparations and whether Pakistan can host it successfully while meeting the needs of all teams that participate. Cricket fans around the world are eagerly waiting for what promises to be an exciting and historic tournament in 2025.