Champions Trophy: Hybrid model or out of Pakistan? ICC to decide tomorrow

The suspense over the fate of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to end at the crucial executive board meeting on Friday, with less than 90 days remaining for the event to be held in Pakistan in February-March 2025. The world governing body has not been able to come up with a schedule ratified by all teams within the 20 November deadline, which amounts to a breach of contract with the stakeholders and most importantly, official broadcasters Jio-Star.

It remains to be seen how the ICC board arrives at a solution to the vexed problem of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) unwilling to send an Indian team to Pakistan and the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) refusing to buy into the 'hybrid model' suggested by India, with five of the 15 matches (three of India’s group league games, a possible semi-final and final involving India) being held in the UAE. The world governing body of cricket has been soft-pedalling on the crisis so far, but it’s a question of now-or-never.  

There is a likelihood that Pakistan may be pressured by other board members to accept the hybrid model in view of the recent political demonstrations in Islamabad by Pakistan's legendary former cricket captain and prime minister Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaaf party.

Incidents of violence resulted in the Sri Lanka A team’s tour to Pakistan being cut short by a couple of matches, though PCB chairman and the nation's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi maintained that the situation has been brought under control by the army. 

‘’There has been no discernible change in the PCB’s stance about the hybrid model. In case the ICC plans to shift the entire tournament to a neutral country (read UAE or South Africa), then Pakistan is likely to pull out of the tournament. While there are several financial ramifications, a Champions Trophy without an India-Pakistan game will dilute the product severely,’’ informed sources said.

There is a feeling in some quarters that it’s time for the PCB to be pragmatic and fall in with the hybrid model (the ICC is reportedly willing to compensate for the reduction in matches), or else they may be forced on the backfoot if a majority of board members feel that sending teams to Pakistan is not tenable owing to the security situation.

The recent example of the Women’s T20 World Cup being shifted from Bangladesh to the UAE owing to protests against the Sheikh Hasina regime is still fresh in memory.

Financial implications

The ICC, understandably, is trying to sell the point to the PCB that without the premier India vs Pakistan fixture, the event will lose all its sheen and more importantly, there will be massive financial implications. There has been some talk of decoupling India and Pakistan in different groups in the league stage of the tournament to avoid Team India’s travel to the neighbouring country, but broadcasters will not be ready to compromise on an assured fixture of the biggest game of the event.

India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed more than 150 people. The latest refusal to travel has been blamed on security concerns and the ICC has maintained that it does not expect any member board to go against government advice. The sport has been coping with this anomaly, with the hybrid model acting as face saver time and again, until the recent crisis.

A clear picture should emerge by tomorrow, with the hybrid model (with Pakistan being compensated), looking like the best option on the table.