Dubai: The ongoing deadlock over the ICC Champions Trophy remains unresolved as India’s stubborn stance led to the postponement of an ICC meeting scheduled for today.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9 next year, with Pakistan as both the host and the defending champion.
However, three months before the event, India has once again refused to travel to Pakistan, demonstrating its traditional intransigence. All other teams have agreed to travel, and an ICC delegation that visited Pakistan multiple times expressed satisfaction with the security and arrangements in place.
India Seeks Hybrid Model for Matches
Similar to the Asia Cup, India insists on playing its matches under the hybrid model in the UAE, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected this model, asserting that the entire event should be held in Pakistan. Unlike the Asia Cup, where the hybrid model was implemented, the PCB has firmly stated that it will not accept any arrangement that would prevent Pakistan from hosting the full event.
Scheduling Deadlock and Broadcasting Pressure
Due to India’s refusal, the ICC has not yet released the schedule for the Champions Trophy, leading to mounting pressure from broadcasters.
PCB’s Proposal and India’s Rejection
Recently, Pakistan proposed a partnership or fusion model to ensure the timely organization of the event, suggesting that Pakistan-India matches in all ICC tournaments be played at neutral venues. This proposal, if accepted, would have applied to ICC events scheduled until 2027, including any cricket event hosted in India, where Pakistan’s matches would be played outside India.
However, India rejected Pakistan’s proposal, raising concerns about the future of the Champions Trophy and the possibility of its cancellation.
Postponed Meeting
Today’s ICC meeting between the board members and broadcasters was supposed to address this issue. PCB Chairman Najam Sethi had arrived in Dubai this morning to attend the meeting. However, India’s refusal to accept the hybrid model and its uncompromising stance led to the postponement of the meeting before it even began.
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