The ICC Board will meet on Friday to resolve the dilemma of where and how to hold the Champions Trophy. There are less than three months left for the tournament to start. They will look at three options. First hybrid option – where most of the matches are in Pakistan but the matches in which India will play are outside Pakistan. The second option is to hold the entire tournament outside Pakistan but its hosting rights will remain with the PCB. The entire third tournament should be held in Pakistan without the Indian team. The third option out of the three is less likely to be selected as it will impact the financial and commercial aspects of the tournament.
Pakistan’s stance softening on hybrid model!
Following the words of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Pakistan on Thursday morning, the hybrid model is most likely to be adopted. When asked several times about the hybrid option, Naqvi only said that whatever decision the ICC Board takes, he will discuss it with the Government of Pakistan.
Although this does not necessarily indicate a softening of stance, it was different from his previous statements where he had rejected the hybrid model. Instead, Naqvi highlighted the possibility that Pakistan may no longer be willing or able to play in India, as India will host the Women’s World Cup next year, the Asia Cup in 2025, the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and the Champions Trophy in 2029. Is doing, which will become a problem in future.
He did not tell whether Pakistan will play with India in this tournament or not, because being in the same group, if there is a hybrid model then they will have to play this match outside Pakistan. Not having a match here would also mean a significant commercial blow to the tournament. Naqvi repeatedly said, “Whatever we do, we will ensure that the best outcome is achieved for Pakistan. But I repeat and I know you know what I mean, it is not possible that Pakistan Play in and they don’t come here.”
Naqvi said the PCB would not look at any kind of financial settlement, dismissing informal discussions that the PCB might try to negotiate a hefty hosting fee in exchange for a hybrid model. He said, “We will not sell our hosting rights for some higher amount. This will never happen. But we will do what is better for Pakistan. In any event, when there are two countries in the venue, the budget of the tournament will be made again.
Voting will take place on matters not reached through discussion.
This will be an online meeting and if no conclusion is reached between the boards then voting will take place. But time is decreasing before the tournament and as preparations for it begin, there will be pressure to find a solution as quickly as possible. Depending on the option the Board chooses, an alternative or additional venue will have to be selected and the program for the event will have to be finalized and released.
Additionally, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi are undergoing significant renovation work in the run-up to being ready for the tournament. PCB has assured the ICC Board that these venues will be ready for the tournament by the end of this year.
Pakistan have won the rights to host the Champions Trophy in November 2021 and if it goes as planned, it will be their first ICC event to host since the 1996 World Cup. But the situation went awry when the BCCI informed the ICC earlier this month that their team had not been given permission by the Indian government to go to Pakistan.
This is not surprising, as no Indian team has toured Pakistan since 2008, the year relations between the two countries soured following the Mumbai attacks. Since then, Pakistan has toured India thrice, in 2012–13 for a bilateral series, in 2016 for the T20 World Cup and most recently in 2023 for the ODI World Cup. The visit took place only after approval by a government committee despite considerable opposition from some opposition party members. Recently PCB also had to go to hybrid model for Asia Cup, but they are hopeful that this time India will come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
