December 8, 2024: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, provided an update on Saturday regarding the much-anticipated 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He announced that a crucial ICC meeting scheduled to discuss the tournament had been postponed. Naqvi assured the nation that once the details were finalized, updates would be provided.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized that talks were still ongoing and that the PCB was committed to achieving the best possible outcome for Pakistan and international cricket.
“We had a meeting (with the ICC) today, it’s been postponed. Once the details have been finalized, we’ll update you. We will not disappoint the nation. Talks are still ongoing, but I do not want to say anything that is premature. We are aiming to achieve the best for Pakistan and international cricket,” Naqvi said. He further added, “If the ICC progresses, cricket will progress. If there is a dent in the ICC, it will be felt across the world.”
While the PCB has consistently pushed for hosting the entire 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, recent reports suggest that progress has been made toward a potential compromise. According to sources from ESPNcricinfo, the ICC and PCB have reportedly reached an in-principle agreement to implement a hybrid model for global tournaments hosted in either Pakistan or India until 2027. This model would allow teams from both countries to play their respective matches at neutral venues during ICC events, while the host country would organize the rest of the tournament.
This potential deal could apply to the major global events within the current ICC commercial cycle (2024-2027). In addition to the Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2025 in Pakistan, other significant tournaments include the Women’s ODI World Cup in India later in 2025 and the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
While this agreement has not been publicly confirmed by the PCB, sources suggest it was reached following meetings between Jay Shah, the newly appointed ICC Chair, and Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai. These discussions were part of a broader courtesy visit by Shah to the ICC headquarters in his new role.
The postponement of the meeting and the ongoing discussions underscore the sensitivity and complexity of organizing such high-profile tournaments amidst the political and logistical challenges between Pakistan and India. It remains unclear whether this hybrid model will apply to both men’s and women’s tournaments, but it seems to offer a potential solution that balances the interests of both cricketing nations while ensuring the success of ICC events.
For now, cricket fans across the globe will have to wait for further updates from the PCB and ICC as negotiations continue.
