New Delhi: Amid reports that BCCI is unlikely to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly mulling hosting the tournament in a hybrid model. UAE can be roped in as a co-host for the tournament if the BCCI remains firm on its stance of not allowing Team India to travel to Pakistan.
BCCI is yet to make an official statement on India’s participation in the tournament and whether the Indian team will be allowed to play in Pakistan. However, as per multiple reports, the Indian cricket board is unlikely to relent. The final decision will rest on the Indian government. India have not travelled to Pakistan for any cricket since 2008 amid strained political relations between the two nations.
As per a report in Cricket Pakistan, sources have indicated that the ICC is considering alternative plans amid India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan. The topic will be up for discussion at ICC’s annual conference in Colombo later this month and a second country is likely to be made the co-host of the tournament.
As per the report, the ICC will ask BCCI to confirm India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan during the conference. If the BCCI remain firm on its stance of not sending the Indian team to Pakistan citing a lack of government approval, the ICC might draw contingency plans and a discussion on budget of hosting the tournament in two nations will be discussed.
The report further adds that ICC remains concerned that the tournament can be jeopardised if India refuse to come to Pakistan and pull out at the last minute. Thus UAE is likely to be roped in as the co-host of the tournament along with Pakistan. In case UAE is finalised as the co-hosts, the tournament will be hosted in a hybrid mode and chartered flights will be arranged for the teams.
In such a scenario, India is likely to play all their matches in the UAE like they did during the Asia Cup 2023. The Asia Cup was supposed to be hosted by PCB but the tournament was later conducted in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka hosting India’s matches. India went on to beat Sri Lanka in the final to win the trophy.
Champions Trophy 2025 tentative schedule
As per the tentative schedule submitted to the ICC by the Pakistan Cricket Board, all of India’s matches will be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. The marquee India-Pakistan clash has been scheduled in Lahore on March 01. However, the schedule is yet to get BCCI’s consent and approval from ICC.
The final has been scheduled for March 9 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. However, the summit clash might be taken away from Pakistan if the tournament is hosted in a hybrid model. Any decision on the final schedule and the venues of the Champions Trophy is likely to be taken after ICC’s annual conference in Colombo.
The ICC is reportedly exploring the option of staging the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model by roping in a co-host nation amid BCCI’s unwillingness to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
