Pakistan Bold Condition for Hosting Champions Trophy 2025: Hybrid Model Demands for All ICC Tournaments Until 2031
The issue surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy is still far from being resolved, as India has firmly rejected the idea of traveling to Pakistan for the tournament. In response, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been in continuous negotiations with Pakistan, proposing a hybrid model for the event. After multiple rounds of talks, Pakistan has agreed to this model. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has attached a significant condition to their agreement, which may complicate the situation further.
Pakistan Tough Stance
The PCB has made it clear that they will only accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy if the ICC agrees to implement this format for all ICC tournaments scheduled in India until 2031. According to a source within the PCB, Pakistan chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has insisted that the agreement to host the 2025 Champions Trophy should be conditional on a commitment to hold all future ICC events in a hybrid format, meaning that Pakistan will not travel to India for matches.
Additional Demand for Revenue Share
Along with this condition, the PCB has also raised concerns regarding the financial distribution within the ICC. The board has requested a greater share of the ICC annual revenue cycle. This demand comes as part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to gain more control and influence in global cricket governance.
Impact on Future ICC Tournaments
India is scheduled to host four major ICC tournaments by 2031: the Women ODI World Cup in 2025, the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 (co-hosted with Sri Lanka), the Champions Trophy in 2029, and the 2031 Men’s ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Bangladesh. If the PCB’s demands are accepted by the ICC, these four tournaments could become a source of controversy, potentially complicating the participation of teams and creating logistical challenges for players.
As of now, the ICC has not responded to the PCB bold conditions. With tensions running high, the future of these international tournaments hangs in the balance, leaving players and fans eagerly waiting to see how the situation unfolds.
