ICC Champions Trophy 2025: In a major development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to adopt the Hybrid Model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, meaning the India National Cricket Team will not play their matches in Pakistan.
Reports suggest that the PCB is ready to modify the tournament schedule, with India’s matches being moved from Pakistan to the UAE.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India’s Matches Were Originally Scheduled to Be Held in Lahore
The tentative schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 had India’s matches set to be hosted in Lahore. The tournament, starting on February 19, 2025, included the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match on March 1.
However, due to security concerns, this match is now expected to be held in the UAE. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is renovating stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and a venue in the UAE, with an investment of nearly 13 billion rupees.
A source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told PTI that the board is prepared to adopt the Hybrid Model if the Indian government does not permit the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“The PCB feels that even if Indian government does not clear the tour to Pakistan slight adjustments can be made to the schedule, as in all probability India would play its matches in Dubai or Sharjah,” a reliable source in the PCB told PTI.
A recent report by SportsTak has revealed that the Indian government has denied the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permission to send Team India to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With the government blocking the Rohit Sharma-led team’s travel to Pakistan, neither the International Cricket Council (ICC) nor the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can alter the situation.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule to be announced soon.
As previously mentioned, the PCB had already submitted a tentative schedule to the ICC and is urging the governing body to finalize and announce the schedule by November 11. The PCB is eager to avoid any delays, as a backup plan for hosting India’s matches outside Pakistan, along with the necessary budget, is already in place.
“The PCB has discussed with the ICC the tentative schedule, which they sent some months back, and wants the same schedule announced on 11 November,” said the source.
“It has told the ICC that since a back-up plan is already in place with a revised budget there is no sense in delaying releasing a tentative schedule of matches.”
Additionally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to provide a written confirmation regarding the stance of the Indian government. The PCB is seeking a prompt decision from the BCCI to avoid any further delays in finalizing the arrangements for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“The PCB wants the BCCI to give in writing whether they get permission from their government or not to send their team to Pakistan,” the source said.
The Hybrid Model is not new to Pakistan, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) used the same approach during the Asia Cup 2023. In that instance, the competition was co-hosted by Sri Lanka after India refused to travel to Pakistan.
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