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It is reported that the ICC will hold an emergency meeting with the participating nation’s cricket board to discuss the concerns regarding Pakistan’s hosting of the Champions Trophy.
ICC will discuss the concerns regarding Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy 2025. (Image: X)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly called an emergency meeting to discuss the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament where all of the affiliated boards’ higher-ups will come together to discuss the tournament taking place in Pakistan, their concerns and more.
According to a report by India Today, the ICC is set to act as a mediator hoping to come to a resolution which includes the discussion of the safety concerns in Pakistan mentioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to not travel to the country during tense relations between the two nations.
Despite India’s refusal to make the trip, Pakistan doubled down on their stance to host the tournament and rejected the ‘Hybrid Model’.
This is where the tournament’s games are split between a neutral venue and Pakistan, like in the Asia Cup 2023 with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as hosts.
The key points of discussion as per the report include the groupings for India and Pakistan, hosting the semi-final and finals in a neutral venue and what is the next step should Pakistan not approve of the hybrid model. In addition, talks will also take place for the entire tournament to be held in a neutral venue as well as the possibility of Pakistan not taking part in the tournament.
The BCCI had issued a complaint to the ICC regarding Pakistan holding a trophy tour in disputed areas like the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) region, Islamabad, Taxila and Khanpur. Since the complaint, the ICC made changes to the itinerary which covers many cities across Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy was last played in 2017 where Pakistan beat India by 180 runs in the final that took place in London. With the tournament’s return, it will give more importance to 50-over cricket which has been reducing in recent years with the ODI World Cup being held every four years.
The tournament’s revival will be of massive importance for international cricket, the ICC and cricket boards from around the world. The discussions could hold a massive say on the future of CT 2025 and whether the ICC can find a middle ground between the sensitive issues that put the tournament’s return at stake.
