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Champions Trophy 2025: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to hold an emergency board meeting on Tuesday, November 26 to discuss and finalise the details of the Champions Trophy 2025. All board members, including Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will participate in the virtual meeting.
A reliable source has exclusively confirmed Sports Tak that the primary purpose of this meeting is to address the Champions Trophy 2025, especially considering India's refusal to tour Pakistan. As time is running out, the ICC needs to finalise various aspects of the tournament, including the schedule, format and group stage fixtures, particularly the India-Pakistan match. However, Pakistan being the original host of the Champions Trophy 2025, the confusion around the venue still lingers after BCCI refused to send Team India to Pakistan for the tournament.
It has also been learnt that the semifinal and final will be held on a neutral venue as the Champions Trophy is heading towards a hybrid model plan.
On being asked about whether PCB is agreeing to the hybrid model or not, the source said that a lot of things need to be discussed regarding Champions Trophy 2025 in the meeting. The source was also asked about Champions Trophy without Pakistan to which he said:
"Many things needs to be discussed...lets hope for the best."
The ICC will play a crucial role in mediating discussions between the BCCI and the PCB. The primary goal is to find a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved. Key issues on the agenda include the BCCI's security concerns and the PCB's insistence on hosting rights. A potential compromise, the hybrid model, which involves splitting matches between neutral venues and Pakistan, has been proposed. However, the PCB has consistently rejected this proposal, arguing that it undermines their authority as hosts.
Earlier, on November 18, during an inspection of the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his confidence in addressing India's concerns regarding a potential tour to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. He stated that he sees no reason why India should not participate in the tournament.
"Every other team that has qualified for the Champions Trophy is ready to come. No one has any concern. If India have any concerns, we will talk, and we will ensure that concerns are taken care of. I don't think there is any reason why India can't come to Pakistan. Hopefully, all the teams will come," Naqvi said.
Mohsin Naqvi also mentioned that he is awaiting a response from the ICC regarding the finalised schedule for the Champions Trophy.
"Sports and politics are separate things. I don't want countries mixing them. We are hoping for the best. ICC will announce the schedule; I am sure they will announce it soon so that we can finalise the preparations. All the questions that we had, we have written to them. We are awaiting a reply," he added.
Notably, India and Pakistan haven't played a bilateral cricket series since 2008. Since then, their matches have been limited to ICC tournaments.
