Minus-India among three options to be discussed in ICC meeting: report
ICC to Discuss Champions Trophy 2025 Amid India-Pakistan Dispute
The ICC will hold a virtual meeting on Friday to address uncertainties surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy, primarily due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan.
According to reliable sources, multiple options are being considered. While hosting the tournament in Pakistan without India has been suggested, this seems improbable given India’s substantial commercial influence in cricket.
One alternative is a hybrid model, where Pakistan hosts most matches, but games involving India are played at a neutral venue, likely the UAE. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected this idea, insisting that all Pakistan matches, including any against India, must take place on home soil.
Other possibilities include relocating the tournament entirely to a neutral venue or postponing it. There’s also speculation that the ICC might propose stripping Pakistan of hosting rights, a move the PCB is likely to strongly resist.
The PCB has formally asked the ICC to present clear proposals at the meeting and has urged the BCCI to submit a written explanation for India’s refusal to tour Pakistan. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during a visit to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, assured stakeholders that Pakistan’s cricketing interests would be firmly defended.
The ICC is expected to weigh these options carefully, particularly since a Champions Trophy without a Pakistan-India clash could significantly affect the tournament’s appeal.
