Where will the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 be held? The deadlock regarding this is not ending. India has clearly denied that it will not travel to Pakistan for ICC events next year, on the other hand, Pakistan has also made its stand clear that it will not organize the tournament in the hybrid model. In such a situation, there is confusion regarding the tournament. However, a ray of hope arose when Pakistan indicated that it might agree to host the tournament on a hybrid model.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the PCB had offered to consider a hybrid model in a bid to break the current impasse over the Champions Trophy. However, PCB had set a condition for this. The Pakistan Board had placed a condition that if Pakistan is given the option of hybrid model for the ICC tournament to be held in India, then it can agree to it. PCB had put forward this proposal in the meeting with ICC and BCCI in Dubai last week.
However, sources told NDTV that the Indian board has rejected Pakistan’s ‘conditions’ in which the PCB had asked to adopt the same ‘hybrid model’ for ICC events to be held in India. In such a situation, there is still confusion regarding the Champions Trophy. Amidst all this, former fast bowler of Pakistan cricket team Shoaib Akhtar has said that the Indian cricket team is dying to play in Pakistan but they are not getting approval.
Shoaib Akhtar said during a discussion, “India is dying to play in Pakistan more than Pakistan. Virat Kohli might be dying to play in Pakistan. I work there, I know, I can tell you the truth.” If it lands in India and Pakistan, the TV rights will go up a lot.” When he was asked why the Indian team was not coming, Akhtar said, “They are not coming, that is why the sponsors are not coming.” Shoaib Akhtar further said that the government does not want that, that is why India is not traveling to Pakistan.
“Virat Kohli and BCCI dying to play in Pakistan.”
Shoaib Akhtar ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/r7RamVY2fT
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) December 4, 2024
Meanwhile, after taking over as ICC chairman, former BCCI secretary Jay Shah did not comment on the Champions Trophy, but outlined his priorities for his tenure. Jay Shah has said that the inclusion of sport in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is an opportunity to be used as an opportunity to further accelerate the development of women’s sports.
A Cricbuzz report said that Jay Shah has called a virtual board meeting on December 5, but there is no specific agenda in it. It is not clear in the report whether there will be any discussion on the Champions Trophy or not.
