Champions Trophy 2025: PCB may agree to hybrid model but with a set of conditions

The uncertainty surrounding the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is finally getting clearer, with the concerned parties — the ICC, PCB, and BCCI — closing in on a solution. The BCCI had said they won’t be sending the Indian team to play cricket in Pakistan for the tournament and PCB had refused to accept the hybrid model. 

But now, PCB may say yes to the hybrid model on condition that they will be granted the same option for the ICC tournaments in India until 2027. Under this, both teams won’t be visiting each other’s countries and would be allowed to play their matches in a nearby neutral venue. A formal announcement could be made on December 7. 

In the ICC’s current cycle (2023-27), three global events are scheduled in India or Pakistan — the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the women's ODI World Cup in India in late 2025, and the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It is not clear yet if the same conditions would be applied for the women’s ICC events, although the PCB wants this to be followed for the women’s events as well. 

As reported by ESPNCricinfo, the development occurred after a meeting between the newly appointed ICC chair Jay Shah and PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi during the former’s first visit to the ICC headquarters in Dubai.

The PCB has also asked for compensation for the potential financial loss it would incur if India played their matches elsewhere. In case India make it to the knockout stage, then one semi-final and possibly the final as well would be played outside Pakistan. Sri Lanka and UAE are the frontrunners to host India’s games. 

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