The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be announcing their big decision on the schedule of the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy 2025 on November 29 (Friday). However, the tension between BCCI and PCB continues over India's denial to travel to Pakistan and a potential hybrid model. The schedule announcement will clear a lot of air around this long-going tussle and reveal what's the final decision made by cricket's top governing body.
A stalemate has resulted from India's decision to not send its cricket team to play in Pakistan, despite Pakistan having the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy. A hybrid plan, which would entail holding some games at a neutral location, has been rejected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Last Monday, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated this stance while also proposing steps to allay India's worries, such as security guarantees
Sports Tak earlier this week reported that in order to address the matter, the ICC called an urgent meeting with representatives from the Indian cricket board and other interested parties. Sources claim that attempts were on to convince Pakistan to accept a hybrid approach, which would allow the tournament's schedule to be announced.
Both Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be there for the meeting including all other countries' boards participating in the mega tournaments. The first agenda of the is the match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan along with group stages of the tournament.
As the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan, one of the semifinal match and the final will be played at a neutral venue. However, if PCB does not agree to a hybrid model, the entire Champions Trophy will be shifted out of Pakistan. As reported by Sports Tak earlier, South Africa is the ideal replacement to host the event.
Recently, there have been reports that defending champions Pakistan may opt out of Champions Trophy if they lose the hosting rights. In that case, there will be a discussion around the possibility of Champions Trophy without Pakistan as well.
"Many things needs to be discussed...lets hope for the best," the source told Sports Tak on possibility of Pakistan's absence from the event.
Notably, the PCB had declared a trophy tour that will include places including Islamabad, Taxila, and Khanpur in addition to the contentious Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) region. But after the BCCI complained, the ICC changed the schedule. The trophy will now proceed to the seven other participating countries following the updated tour stops in different locations throughout Pakistan until November 25. From January 15 to 26, the trophy will be on display in a number of Indian towns before making its last stop in Pakistan on January 27.
