A day after a virtual ICC board meeting ended without finalizing the venue for the 2025 Champions Trophy, a final decision remains elusive. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was in Dubai today and as he welcomed Pakistan’s U-19 win over India, there was greater intrigue over whether the PCB, BCCI and ICC have been able to reach an agreement on next year’s tournament.
As he did in the early hours of Thursday morning, Naqvi did not categorically rule out a hybrid model for hosting the tournament, something he has done in the past. “We will do what is best for cricket,” he told reporters in Dubai. “If we adopt another formula [except hosting the tournament in Pakistan]will it be done on the basis of equality. The most important thing for Pakistan is its respect; everything else is secondary.”
Once again, Naqvi repeated what he stated several times at the Gaddafi Stadium earlier this week. “A unilateral arrangement is no longer acceptable. It cannot be that we keep going to India but they don’t visit Pakistan. Whatever happens must be on the basis of equality.”
What such an arrangement might look like remains uncertain. Sources told Pakinomist that Pakistan are looking for a fair solution over a three-year period where any arrangement made for the Champions Trophy is replicated for tournaments held in India
Naqvi’s repeated comments around “equality” have raised speculation that the PCB will seek to earn some concessions if they accept a hybrid model in any form. It may involve an agreement for India to play their matches outside Pakistan, but a decision that any future tournaments hosted by India will offer provisions for Pakistan to play their matches outside India. There is also the possibility of some financial compensation for the PCB beyond such an arrangement, although Naqvi said earlier this week that decisions would not be based on money.
Pakinomist understands a decision must be made within the next few days, although Naqvi’s comments suggest there remain significant loose ends to be tied up. In all likelihood, any proposal will have to be run past the governments of both India and Pakistan before being presented to the ICC for approval; India were denied permission to travel to Pakistan by the Indian government and the PCB has repeatedly said, as a result, that any action they take must be approved by their government.
“We need to resolve this once and for all,” Naqvi said. “And whatever happens, everyone must be treated equally. Any deal will not just be for the Champions Trophy, but for the long term.”
The tournament is set to begin in less than 90 days, on February 19. Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are the venues slated to host the games, but if a hybrid option is chosen, it would involve another venue outside of Pakistan. The UAE, where Naqvi met ECB officials earlier today, is the frontrunner in such a scenario.
