The future of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is at stake in the fight between India and Pakistan. Today the ICC will hold a meeting with officials of various cricket boards and decide where and how the Champions Trophy will be organised. India has refused to send its team to Pakistan, after which PCB is also adamant.
By Arvind Dubey
Published Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:18:54 AM (IST)
Updated Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2024 12:42:10 PM (IST)
HighLights
- ICC will consider three options
- Hybrid model is most likely
- If Pakistan is adamant then hosting may be snatched away
Agency, Islamabad (ICC Champions Trophy 2025). Friday could be a decisive day for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in February-March next year. Today ICC officials have a virtual meeting with various boards.
In the meeting, ICC will seek the opinion of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well as the boards of countries like Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand. The question is whether organizing the Champions Trophy is possible in Pakistan? If yes then how and if no then what next?
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Considering three options
- BCCI has clearly refused to send its team to Pakistan. After this the PCB is also adamant. Now the ball is in ICC’s court and it has three options.
- The first option which is being considered most likely is the hybrid model. Meaning, competitions should be conducted in some other country instead of India. However, Pakistan is not at all ready.
- The second option is to organize the Champions Trophy without India. However, this is beyond imagination, because ICC earns a lot due to the popularity of the Indian team. This will also damage the PCB.
- The third option is to organize the event in another country. If both India and Pakistan do not agree, ICC can take this decision. Its biggest loss will be paid to Pakistan.
Islamabad violence increased Pakistan’s problems
Meanwhile, the violence that broke out in the capital Islamabad has also increased the problems of PCB. Due to this violence, Sri Lanka withdrew its A team from Pakistan. However, even after this the PCB tried to give a strong message. PCB says it is wrong to link Islamabad violence with Champions Trophy.
Why did Shahid Afridi mention Mumbai attacks?
There is anger in Pakistan that India has refused to send its team to Pakistan. Now former cricketer Shahid Afridi has also expressed his anger.
Shahid said that I am with the PCB’s decision of not accepting the hybrid model. The Indian government is mixing politics and cricket, which is wrong. This is a loss for cricket.
Shahid wrote on X- ICC should prove its authority. After all, even after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Pakistan team had toured India. Other cricket boards should also raise their voice against this stand of India.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
