The Indian cricket team has reportedly informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that they will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. This decision has sparked questions about where the tournament will be held and may require the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider a backup plan. One possible solution being discussed is a “hybrid model,” where some matches would take place in Pakistan and others in a neutral location like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Sri Lanka.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed hesitation about this hybrid approach. He has requested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) submit any specific concerns in writing. Naqvi indicated that, if received, these objections would be carefully reviewed in consultation with the Pakistani government before reaching a final decision. Meanwhile, the ICC is awaiting formal written confirmation from the BCCI before it proceeds with any changes to the tournament structure.
The hybrid model, if chosen, would be similar to the 2023 Asia Cup arrangement, where matches were split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka because of similar diplomatic concerns. Political issues between India and Pakistan continue to impact their sports relations, limiting the teams to facing each other mainly in ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments since 2008. The situation highlights how political tensions can influence even major international sports events, requiring creative solutions to allow competition to continue.
