Pak eyeing Colombo, Dubai for CT

KARACHI:

After months of negotiations and disputes, Pakistan and India have reached a consensus on a hybrid model for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

According to the agreement, the Indian team will play its matches at a neutral venue. If India fails to qualify for the final, the championship match will be hosted in Lahore. In return, Pakistan's team will not play its matches for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup on Indian soil, with Sri Lanka likely serving as the alternative host.

Sources have revealed that officials from both cricket boards have finalized the details, and the ball is now in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) court. The agreement is expected to be formalized through official signatures, with the ICC set to make an announcement by Sunday or Monday.

While the UAE is currently the favorite for hosting India's matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also considering Sri Lanka as a potential venue. The final decision will depend on securing the best possible deal.

Interestingly, the ICC is reportedly unaware of Sri Lanka's sudden inclusion as a hosting option, with Dubai still being its preferred venue for India's matches.

In recent developments, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi held an important meeting in Dubai with Mubashir Usmani, a former official of the Emirates Cricket Board and current ICC Director. Discussions during the meeting reportedly covered a range of key issues.

Meanwhile, some senior PCB officials are currently in Saudi Arabia for Umrah, but sources confirm that progress on this matter has been achieved. The formal announcement of the arrangement is now awaited from the ICC.

Champions Trophy schedule

With ICC Champions Trophy 2025 saga coming to a possible close with the PCB accepting the hybrid model of the tournament, the ICC is all set to announce the schedule in the coming week.

According to a report, the schedule is set to come out on Monday, December 16 with the tournament set to begin from February 19, 2025.

As per the report, the BCCI and the PCB have resolved their differences, the negotiations between ICC and eight cricket boards are also in the final stages.

With it nearing its end, the ICC will soon announce their schedule, which is highly possible in this week.

The future of Champions Trophy 2025 was in fray after BCCI refused Team India's travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.

Moreover, these updates around ICC likely to announce the schedule of Champions Trophy 2025 comes with the PCB's Board of Governors convening a meeting on December 18.

According to a report, PCB will discuss issues related to Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the 2025 cricketing season.

The meeting will be held on December 18 in Islamabad.

The sources also revealed that the meeting will discuss the performance of the Pakistan team in each format of the game. Furthermore, the meeting will include a briefing on the upgradation of stadiums across the country.

Previously, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi's principled stance on the Champions Trophy.

In his meeting Shehbaz Sharifm Mohsin Naqvi informed the prime minister that the PCB is fully prepared to host the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister remarked that at the ICC, Chairman PCB has represented the voice of 240 million Pakistanis.