Champions Trophy 2025 fate to be decided tomorrow as ICC postpones meeting

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has postponed its board meeting to decide the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy, with discussions failing to reach a conclusion.

The meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow for further deliberation.

During today's session, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s stance against the proposed hybrid model for the tournament.

Naqvi emphasised that Pakistan is committed to hosting all matches on home soil, rejecting any alternative arrangements.

Representatives from India presented their position, stating that the Indian government has not granted permission for the national cricket team to travel to Pakistan, which remains a point of contention between the two cricketing nations.

The deadlock between Pakistan and India continues, with ICC officials announcing that board members will reconvene tomorrow in an attempt to break the impasse. If no agreement is reached, the ICC may resort to a voting process to determine the future of the tournament.

PCB chair Naqvi, while addressing a press conference here at Gaddafi Stadium in the wee hours of Thursday, asserted that the cricket board would do what's in the best interest of Pakistan cricket before emphasizing the need of reciprocity in cricketing ties between Pakistan and India. "Our stance is very clear," Naqvi stated. "I promise we'll do what is best for Pakistan cricket.

I'm constantly in touch with the ICC chairman, and my team is talking to them constantly. We're still clear in our stance that it's not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don't play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We've told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we'll let you know."

"Whatever we do, we will make sure the best outcome for Pakistan is achieved. But I repeat, and I am sure you know what I mean, it's not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don't come here."

The PCB chairman further commented on the impending appointment of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah as the ICC chairman and expressed his hope that the latter would prioritize the benefit of the apex body after assuming the role.

"(Jay Shah) takes charge in December, and I'm sure once he moves from the BCCI to the ICC, he will think about the ICC's benefit, and that's what he should do. Whenever anyone assumes such a role, he should only consider the interests of that organisation," Mohsin Naqvi said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Champions Trophy 2025 is at a standstill following the BCCI's refusal to send its team to Pakistan and stubbornness of holding the event under a hybrid model. The PCB is firm on its stance of opposing the hybrid model and also on boycotting all of India's matches if the BCCI does not send its national men's team to the country, which further delayed the announcement of the schedule.