The ICC is holding a high-voltage meeting on Friday to decide the fate of the Champions Trophy. All party representatives will attend the meeting virtually.
India has already informed that it will not play in Pakistan. Instead, BCCI has emphasized on hybrid model. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board is not willing to accept this model.
According to sources, the ICC considers the hybrid model to be the best option. According to cricket’s highest governing body, all countries will accept this model for the sake of the tournament. Because if India-Pakistan does not play, the enthusiasm for the tournament will be reduced a lot.
ICC representatives continue to hold meetings with the PCB. Requested to accept the hybrid model. And because of this mess, the Champions Trophy schedule has not been announced yet. Broadcaster Jio Star has already spoken to the ICC. Broadcasters emphasize quick schedule announcements. According to the agreement with the ICC, the schedule must be handed over to the broadcasters at least 90 days in advance. But this time it hasn’t happened yet. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to start from February 19. I don’t have three months. So the broadcasting company has started to press.
Meanwhile, broadcasters want India and Pakistan to be in one group. Then, a match is guaranteed. If India and Pakistan are kept in a separate group, there is no possibility of India-Pak if any team gets knocked out in the group stage. And here is the problem: India will not go to Pakistan, and Pakistan also does not accept the hybrid model. In these circumstances, the tournament may be moved elsewhere. Everything depends on today’s meeting.
Meanwhile, India will host the Asia Cup in 2025, a women’s 50-over World Cup, and a T20 World Cup in 2026. Pakistan has threatened not to send a team to this tournament if India does not go.
