DUBAI – India’s stubbornness to send its team and the demands of the Indian Board (BCCI) to organize the event under a hybrid model have led ICC unable to announce schedule for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The broadcasters are also worried due to the deadlock.
Pakistan has maintained its position that if India refuses to come to Pakistan, it will not accept playing the tournament in any other country. However, if efforts are made to make India participate, the defending champions have threatened to withdraw from the tournament.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi sent a message to the ICC officials by refusing to agree to silent talks with India and opting for a middle-ground approach. He emphasized that if India does not come to play in Pakistan, the Pakistani government has already stated that they would not play against India.
“Therefore, a tit-for-tat policy will be followed,” said the PCB chairman.
He stated that if India does not come to play on Pakistani soil, Sri Lanka, the ninth-ranked team, should be included as per the law. However, the ICC, facing a financial crisis, insistented to include India.
On the other hand, Jay Shah, the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), would officially take office on December 1. The credible sources revealed that the sponsors, Indian broadcasters, and most importantly, those working under India’s influence at the ICC, are not ready to take a front-foot stance on this issue.
The reports also suggested that after the rigid stances of both countries, an emergency ICC board meeting might be convened, where the discussions and possibly a vote on the matter are expected.
The sources said that Pakistan’s stance is that during the ICC Board meeting on October 21, no objection from India was communicated to Pakistan, and therefore Pakistan maintains its current position. Besides it, the response to the letter sent to the ICC has not yet been received.
The PCB is confident that the Indian Board verbally informed them that India would not travel to Pakistan.
Board was of the view that if the ICC had received an official letter from the Indian government or Board, they would have certainly communicated it to Pakistan. Since Jay Shah’s father, Amit Shah, is India’s Home Minister, Jay Shah is using his father’s influence to verbally convey the Indian Board’s position to the ICC.
Due to India’s stubbornness, the ICC has not yet been able to announce the schedule.
The ICC is facing pressure from broadcasters for an early schedule announcement, and according to broadcast rights agreements, if a Pakistan-India match does not take place, the ICC could potentially face legal action.
After the inflexible stances of both countries, an emergency ICC board meeting could be called, where discussions and voting on the matter are expected.
The sources said that the Indian Board is not in favor of traveling to Pakistan nor accepting the hybrid model proposed by Pakistan.
