Jay Shah, the former BCCI secretary, assumed the office of the ICC chairman on December 1. No doubt, the Champions Trophy 2025 should top the agenda of issues that require immediate attention. Currently, the Indian cricket board, BCCI, and the Pakistan cricket board, PCB are tussling heads over the hosting venue of the Champions Trophy 2025. The BCCI has claimed that the Indian cricket team would not travel to Pakistan, which is also the designated host of the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, the PCB has shown strong discontent about a hybrid model of hosting.
Once assuming the role of ICC chairman, Jay Shah did not say anything about the Champions Trophy while setting his priorities during his term, which included leveraging the inclusion of the sport in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as opportunity and further accelerate the growth of the women’s game.
However, now a report in Cricbuzz states that Jay Shah has called for a virtual Board meeting on December 5, but without a specific agenda. The report doesn’t clarify whether there’s any plan to discuss the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, before it, an earlier report by PTI talked about how International Cricket Council told Pakistan to accept the ‘Hybrid’ model of hosting next year’s Champions Trophy or be prepared to be ousted from the event after PCB’s adamant stand led to an inconclusive meeting of its executive board on November 29.
The emergency meeting was intended to finalize the schedule of the event for February-March next year but ended without reaching a consensus as Pakistan once again reiterated its rejection of the ‘Hybrid’ model given India’s firm refusal to travel there owing to security concerns.
It becomes quite clear that most board members of the ICC understood Pakistan’s situation. But the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was advised to accept the only “plausible solution” at present by which one could move forward-the ‘Hybrid’ model.
Where India plays its part in the Champions Trophy matches under a ‘Hybrid’ model, those matches will be held in the UAE.
“Look, no broadcaster will give a penny in an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC meeting on Saturday will only happen if Mr Mohsin Naqvi agrees with the ‘Hybrid Model,” said an ICC Board source to PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“If not, then the ICC Board might have to shift the tournament entirely to a different country (could be UAE too) but it will be held without Pakistan,” he added.