After months of discussions and excitement about the ICC Champions Trophy and where it will be held, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally accepted a new plan. This plan allows India to play their matches in Dubai, while all other games will take place in Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously told the International Cricket Council (ICC) weeks ago that they wouldn’t travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to lack of approval from the Indian government, mostly because of ongoing political issues between India and Pakistan. This situation led to talks about using a “hybrid model,” which was already tried during last year’s Asia Cup. In that tournament, only a few matches were played in Pakistan, while most took place in Sri Lanka. The ICC was also reportedly supportive of BCCI because of instability in Islamabad.
Initially, PCB was not willing to accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. However, according to a report in Times of India, they were warned that they might lose the right to host the tournament. The ICC and BCCI were firm on this matter, so PCB decided to agree. “I don’t want to comment too much because that can ruin things. We have shared our views with the ICC, and the Indians have shared theirs. The goal is to find a solution that works for everyone,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Dubai. He added, “Cricket should win, and that’s the most important thing for us. We want to do what is best for cricket, and we will ensure that it is fair.”
In return, the PCB asked the ICC to use the hybrid model for all future ICC tournaments held in India until 2031. India is set to host four ICC tournaments in the next seven years, including the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2031. They will also hold the Champions Trophy in 2029 and the Women’s World Cup in 2025.
Additionally, the PCB requested a bigger share of the ICC’s revenue as compensation. Currently, they receive six percent less than the BCCI’s share of 38%. The ICC had offered compensation above the hosting fees, but it is unlikely they will meet PCB’s demands since other countries would not agree to lower their shares, which would put pressure on BCCI. So far, BCCI has not committed to any additional requests.
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