As the deadlock between the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan, and India remain over the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the deadline for finalizing the tournament schedule has passed without resolution.
Pakistan has firmly stated that it will not accept playing in a neutral venue if India refuses to travel to Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that Pakistan would rather withdraw from the tournament than agree to a hybrid model. Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is currently in Dubai at the ICC headquarters to address the situation.
Naqvi has rejected suggestions for backchannel negotiations with India, advising the ICC that Pakistan will adopt a "tit-for-tat" policy. He reiterated that the Pakistani government has already indicated it will not support playing against India under unequal terms.
Should India refuse to participate in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, as the ninth-ranked team, could replace them in the tournament under ICC rules. However, if the ICC insists on India's inclusion, Pakistan has threatened to pull out entirely. Naqvi emphasized that while India's participation boosts ICC revenues, Pakistan's team carries its own significance and cannot be sidelined.
The ICC is under pressure from broadcasters to finalize the schedule, as the absence of a marquee India-Pakistan match could result in legal challenges. Broadcasters have demanded clarity, warning of potential financial consequences if contractual obligations are not met.
Sources indicate that the BCCI has not formally communicated objections to Pakistan's hosting during the ICC Board Meeting on October 21. Instead, the ICC has reportedly relied on verbal updates from Jay Shah, whose father, Amit Shah, serves as India's Home Minister. This reliance on informal communication has further frustrated the PCB.
Despite the urgency, the ICC has yet to announce a schedule or take a definitive stance. The organization may call an emergency board meeting to address the ongoing crisis, with voting on the matter a possibility.
As the start of the Champions Trophy approaches with less than 90 days remaining, the deadlock continues to overshadow the tournament, leaving the cricketing world uncertain about its fate.
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