PCB agrees to hybrid model for 2025 Champions Trophy, sets terms

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy under the hybrid model, but only on the condition that the same model will be applied to their matches in future ICC tournaments held in India, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.

While talks are still ongoing, the PCB presented its proposal to the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during meetings in Dubai over the weekend. The PCB is advocating for a long-term agreement that stretches beyond the 2025 Champions Trophy, with provisions allowing Pakistan to play its matches outside India in future ICC events. However, it remains unclear whether this arrangement will apply for the next three years or until 2031, when the current rights cycle ends.

India is scheduled to host three major men’s tournaments by 2031: the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Sri Lanka in February; the 2029 ICC Champions Trophy in October; and the 2031 ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Bangladesh in October-November. In women’s cricket, India is set to host the 50-over Women’s World Cup next year. The next Asia Cup, scheduled for October 2025, will also be held in India.

Earlier, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, “We will do what’s best for cricket. It is definitely not a hybrid formula, but if a new formula is formed, it will be an equal one,” Naqvi told reporters in a video posted by PCB media on X. “A one-sided arrangement is no longer acceptable. It cannot be the case that we continue to go to India, but they do not visit Pakistan. Whatever happens must be on the basis of equality,” he added.

The BCCI has remained silent on the matter, but indications suggest they may reject the hybrid model for tournaments hosted in India. The ICC Board is set to reconvene to examine the proposal from the PCB before making a final decision on the Champions Trophy. Both the BCCI and PCB will require the final decision to be ratified by their respective governments. The ICC has tentatively scheduled a meeting for December 5, as per ESPNCricinfo.

The options under consideration for the tournament remain similar to those discussed during the ICC board meeting last week: either India will play its games outside Pakistan under a hybrid model, the entire tournament will be moved to another country, or the tournament will proceed without India.

Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in India in 2012-13, consisting of white-ball matches. Since then, India and Pakistan have primarily faced each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.

On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to the BCCI’s statement about “security concerns” and stated that it is “unlikely” that the Indian team will cross the border to play in Pakistan.

Notably, Pakistan has traveled to India for the 2016 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Naqvi stressed that both nations should be treated equally under the same rules. “This is not acceptable that one-sided things happen. Every time Pakistan cannot play in India, we comply. Both nations must be treated equally under the same rules,” Naqvi asserted.

The BCCI has not yet issued an official statement regarding India’s inability to travel to Pakistan. The PCB also mentioned that it has not received any official explanation about this matter.

Since the last ICC meeting, a significant change has taken place within the ICC, with former BCCI secretary Jay Shah taking over as ICC Chair on December 1.

With just 77 days left until the tournament begins, the schedule has not yet been released. The ticketing process for the event has also not been announced, leaving fans uncertain about travel arrangements for the eight-team tournament, which is scheduled to start on February 19 and end on March 9.