New Delhi: Months of suspense and drama finally got over on Thursday with the International Cricket Council (ICC) approving and announcing a hybrid model for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025. According to the agreed terms and conditions, India will be allowed to play all their matches at a neutral venue but the c0-host nation, along with Pakistan, has not be decided yet.
According to multiple media reports in the past few weeks, Dubai would most likely host the India matches and if the Men in Blue reach the knockouts of the eight-team marquee event, India games should possibly be shifted to the neutral venue. Cities in the UAE and Sri Lanka will most probably be shortlisted as the co-hosts due to their geographical proximity with Pakistan.
BCCI agrees to PCB’s demands
The Indian cricket board in return had to agree to Pakistan’s demand for similar methodology to be used for the ICC events to be staged in India. Meanwhile, the ongoing debate over the Champions Trophy received a lot of views and comments by the who’s who of cricketing world and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra also came forward with his thoughts about the hybrid model.
Chopra, on his YouTube channel, said that Pakistan cricket would not end up losing many things in this model, despite witnessing a few matches taking place outside their country. He said that Pakistan will not lose money and with the hybrid model now in place, they haven’t lost their face either, said Chopra. He further said that this decision can be counted as bad news for India because they had to agree for the tit-for-tat policy, which never happened before and the ICC matches being staged in India in future will witness a similar fate.
It happens to be a win-win situation for Pakistan as the ICC has reportedly decided to pay them extra money than they were supposed to receive earlier. Apart from the slight tourism loss because people used to travel to the nation for the fierce India-Pakistan battles, Pakistan will gain the rest, said the former cricketer.
Months of suspense and drama finally got over on Thursday with the International Cricket Council (ICC) approving and announcing a hybrid model for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
