India (Commonwealth) _ According to authentic Indian media sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has consented to the hybrid format for the next Champions Trophy and established terms for its involvement in ICC events in the future.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy, AE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshaali said the UAE is open to hosting the highly anticipated cricket match between India and Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated unequivocally that it will not be attending the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. However, the PCB has remained adamant about holding the competition in Pakistan throughout.
According to sources who spoke to Geo News on Sunday, an alternative arrangement has been developed that will allow India to play all of its ICC matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan, where they are currently scheduled to take place. In addition, Pakistan will play a few games in Dubai that were originally planned to take place in India. Geo News reports that they will use this method for three more years, starting with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Abdulnasser Alshaali said he was interested in hosting the action-packed match in the United Arab Emirates, and talks were on to determine the best way to do so.
Why wouldn’t we? Such games have traditionally been held here. We’ll keep hosting these kinds of games. When asked if the UAE would be interested in hosting the India vs. Pakistan Champions Trophy match, UAE Ambassador Abdulnasser Alshaali told the media that the country is open to both commerce and sports.
To determine the future of the Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan the following year, the ICC met with all of its members on Friday.
Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), defended Pakistan’s position on Saturday, rejecting the notion of using a hybrid model to organize the competition while speculating that a new formula would be developed.
We’ll act in cricket’s best interests. If a new formula is created, it will be an equal one, but it is most definitely not a hybrid formula. We will not tolerate biased judgments. According to a video that PCB media released on X, Naqvi told media in Dubai on Saturday that choices should be made on the basis of equality.
India hasn’t visited Pakistan since 2008, when they played in the Asia Cup, because of the two countries’ tense political ties. The two bitter rivals last engaged in a bilateral series consisting of white-ball matches in India in 2012–2013. Since then, India and Pakistan have mostly played each other in Asia Cups and ICC competitions.
Last Friday, Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), referenced the BCCI’s declaration over “security concerns.” It appears “unlikely” that the Indian side would travel over the border for a game in Pakistan, Jaiswal said during the press briefing.
The PCB suggested delaying sending a side to any ICC tournaments in India till 2031. The PCB is requesting the use of the hybrid model for competitions held in India, including the 2026 T20 World Cup, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Under the hybrid model, Pakistan has demanded that its matches against India take place in a neutral location, proposing Dubai as the location for the 2029 Champions Trophy. The ICC and the cricket bodies of India and Pakistan are currently debating this concept, especially in relation to hosting arrangements for future events.
Highlighting financial and logistical worries over the possibility of matches being played outside of India, the PCB has also asked for a larger portion of the ICC’s yearly earnings as part of its demands.
According to sources, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who share the rights to host the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2031 World Cup, may host Pakistan’s matches instead of India.
There are still talks going on between the ICC and the cricket boards of India and Pakistan about hosting the 2029 Champions Trophy, with discussions about the Women’s World Cup, which has been scheduled for next year.
It is important to note that the PCB, BCCI, and ICC have not yet released any official pronouncements about the tournament’s outcome, and the development cannot be verified until a formal decision is rendered.
