With the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy less than three months away, the ICC board is set to meet virtually on Friday to resolve the ongoing uncertainty about the tournament's location and format. Pakistan, the designated host, finds itself at the centre of three potential solutions:
- A hybrid model, with most matches in Pakistan but India’s games held elsewhere.
- Hosting the entire tournament outside Pakistan while allowing the PCB to retain hosting rights.
- Hosting all matches in Pakistan without India, a choice deemed unfeasible due to its financial and commercial downsides.
The hybrid model appears increasingly unlikely after the PCB reaffirmed its rejection of the idea. An official from the PCB stressed that they expect the ICC to present a "reasonable or acceptable" alternative.
However, just hours earlier, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi indicated a softened stance, "Whatever we do, we will make sure the best outcome for Pakistan is achieved," Naqvi said multiple times. "But I repeat, and I am sure you know what I mean, it's not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don't come here."
Naqvi also reiterated Pakistan's unwillingness to play in India, highlighting future complications with ICC tournaments hosted there, including the Women’s World Cup (2025) and Men’s T20 World Cup (2026). For Pakistan to accept a hybrid arrangement, the PCB might insist on reciprocal conditions for future tournaments in India, where Pakistan’s participation remains uncertain due to government restrictions.
A Clash of Priorities: Cricket or Diplomacy?
The tournament's commercial success hinges on an India-Pakistan clash, but the geopolitical climate makes this challenging. If played under a hybrid model or at a neutral venue, the iconic rivalry could still draw massive attention. However, Naqvi ruled out any pursuit of financial compensation, pinpointing that Pakistan's interests would not be sold for monetary gain. He assured that all decisions would prioritise the country's cricketing dignity and rights.
Renovation work at key Pakistan venues, including Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium, is another pressing concern. The PCB has assured the ICC that these facilities will be ready by year’s end, despite the tight timeline.
The Shadow of History and Politics
Pakistan was awarded hosting rights for the Champions Trophy in 2021, marking what could be their first ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup. However, the BCCI’s announcement that India’s government has not permitted the team to travel to Pakistan has thrown preparations into disarray. This decision follows years of strained relations between the two nations, with no Indian team touring Pakistan since 2008. Meanwhile, Pakistan has travelled to India sporadically, most recently for the 2023 ODI World Cup, after receiving government clearance amid significant opposition.
The PCB had hoped that its compromise to adopt a hybrid model for the Asia Cup earlier this year would set a precedent for mutual cooperation. However, the impasse surrounding the Champions Trophy suggests the road ahead remains fraught with diplomatic hurdles. With time running out, the ICC must urgently decide on a plan to salvage the tournament and ensure its smooth execution.