With the strain in the Indo-Pak relationship due to terrorism, India had written to the ICC, expressing their reluctance to play in Pakistan due to the increased risk to the players. India, however, suggested a hybrid model where India’s matches would be played at a neutral venue.
On Sunday, the ICC wrote to the host board, confirming India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the eight-nation tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan government did not take the news well.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and the PCB have rejected India’s Hybrid Model and are now threatening to boycott the Champions Trophy if the games are not held in Pakistan and if India does not participate.
The government of Pakistan has reportedly asked the PCB not to move the matches out of Pakistan.
With the growing egos escalating due to India’s rejection to play in Pakistan, the topic has led to a frenzy in the Pakistan media.
Pakistan’s government’s advice to bow down to BCCI’s demands could escalate the issue even further, potentially leading to stern action from the ICC, which could result in further alienation of Pakistan cricket.
The Pakistan government reportedly has advised the PCB not to surrender to BCCI’s demands and move the ICC Champions Trophy out of the country.
While the news of the Champions Trophy has been circulating in the Pakistan media for some time, the stance of the Indian cricket board and the Indian government was well known to all. Our past article also mentions the same:
Read: Why India Should Not Travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025
India’s Stance and Solution
After getting approval from the Indian government, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the ICC about India’s stance.
India has officially informed the ICC of their refusal to tour Pakistan for the ICC event, citing terrorism, safety concerns, and the history of violence in the country.
The BCCI wants the Champions Trophy to be played in the hybrid model, with India’s matches in the UAE and the final in Dubai. BCCI has not made any demands regarding the other matches of the tournament.
The hybrid model, where India plays Pakistan at a neutral venue, was a solution that worked in the past. However, with Pakistan playing the ICC World Cup recently in India, there was unwanted pressure from the Pakistan media to push India to reciprocate the same for the Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan.
Pakistan was part of the ICC T20 World Cup on their own accord but now they are putting pressure on the ICC to force India to be part of the tournament.
The current Indo-Pak relationship is at its lowest, and the Indian government does not want to risk the lives of their cricketers, who could easily become targets for terrorists in a country affected by terrorism.
Pakistan’s Stand
“We have been told by our government not to move any game out of Pakistan, and that will be our stand when the time comes. Right now, the ICC has just informed us about India’s decision. We have the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy, so there is no way we can move the games outside Pakistan,” said a PCB official on condition of anonymity, as quoted by IndianExpress.
“We have responded to last week’s ICC letter, seeking clarifications for the BCCI’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In reply, we have sent them a questionnaire asking them the reasons for the BCCI’s decision. We are keen to know that. So right now, there is no talk of moving games,” he added.
In the past few days, many reports have emerged offering viable solutions to the stalemate:
- Continue with the Hybrid Model
- Play the entire tournament in a neutral venue with hosting rights kept with Pakistan
Reports of Pakistan threatening to pull out of the Champions Trophy have also been circulating. Additionally, there are rumors that Pakistan may refuse to play India in all future ICC events.
The above are all speculative reports in the media and have not been fully verified.
India has not played any bilateral games or traveled to Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists. The two teams compete against each other only in ICC tournaments.
The only solution, as per Supersports360, is for Pakistan to agree to the Hybrid Model. The rest is mere theatrics from the Pakistan Board.
No India ❌🇮🇳
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) November 12, 2024
No Champions Trophy ❌🏆#ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/bwTWpFHmPu
Without India, Pakistan knows the Champions Trophy will have no major presence and may lose out on significant sponsors, reducing their revenue source considerably. Moreover, other countries might decide to follow India’s stance, as the situation in Pakistan is not free from terror attacks.
Apart from the threat of boycotting the tournament, Pakistan has also threatened to approach the ICC’s internal dispute committee or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Will that deter India from their decision? Probably not.
The PCB has limited options available to challenge BCCI’s bid for the hybrid model.
What Pakistan Stands to Lose by Their Stand:
- Fighting the BCCI in the Court of Arbitration could further deepen the strain between the two countries.
- Pakistan could face ICC sanctions and lose out on $65 million in case of a Champions Trophy boycott.
- Pakistan still runs their cricket on ICC aids, which could be severely cut due to this refusal to play at a neutral venue, potentially landing them in financial trouble with the ICC.
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