Given its closeness to Pakistan, the UAE is probably going to lead the way in the event of a hybrid model.
India will not be visiting Pakistan to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy, the BCCI has notified the ICC. According to ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI informed the ICC that the Indian government had urged against sending the squad to Pakistan. Due to this development, the ICC and PCB will need to implement a backup plan, most likely a hybrid format in which teams would alternate between Pakistan and a second location, for the eight-team Champions Trophy, which is slated to take place at three locations in Pakistan between February 19 and March 9.
That won’t be easy because Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB, said on Friday that a hybrid model wouldn’t be used or even that it had been discussed. However, ESPNcricinfo is aware that many backup plans were outlined months ago in case the hybrid approach was chosen. Although a few nations have made the short list, it is believed that the UAE will likely win because of its closeness to Pakistan. Sri Lanka is on the shortlist as well.
Although it was unclear if the BCCI had verbally conveyed its decision, the ICC was notified of the BCCI’s position earlier this week. The ICC could be awaiting formal correspondence before forwarding that information to the PCB. Before making a final decision, Naqvi had demanded on Friday that the PCB must receive any complaints from the BCCI “in writing” and that he must address them with his government.
The PCB was not “prepared to accept” the hybrid model, according to Naqvi’s position on Friday, which was noticeably more clear-cut than it has been on the matter. He mentioned the “great gestures” the PCB had previously made, such as sending the squad to India to compete in the 2023 ODI World Cup, even though India had declined to send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. In the end, that competition switched to a hybrid format, with the final phases taking place in Sri Lanka. He also made it clear that the administration will decide whether or not Pakistan would visit India in the future.
Eight teams will compete for the Champions Trophy, with two groups of four, semi-finals, and a final. Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa are among the teams who are competing. The event will begin 100 days from Monday, November 11, though the schedule and tickets information have not yet been made public. Additionally, a scheduled announcement event in Lahore next week is probably going to be postponed due to these events, ESPNcricinfo has been informed.
