Accept hybrid model: ICC to PCB as India firm on not travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy
Dubai/IBNS: The International Cricket Council [ICC] on Friday gave an ultimatum to the Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] to accept the hybrid model of hosting Champions Trophy 2025 after India remained firm on its decision to not travel to Islamabad over "security concerns".
The ICC members told PCB in a meeting which was held on Friday.
However, no solution to the deadlock has been achieved.
The Indian cricket board [BCCI] informed the International Cricket Council [ICC] that Team India won't travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025.
Reiterating the stand, spokesperson of India's External Affairs Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, on Friday said, "The BCCI has issued a statement. So I would refer to the statement. They [BCCI] have said that there are security concerns there and therefore it is unlikely the team will be going there."
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the #BCCI has expressed serious security concerns, making it unlikely for the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. #ChampionsTrophy2025 #Cricket #IndiaPakistan @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @BCCI… pic.twitter.com/7LvJqPwbBU
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 29, 2024
India have never played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2012 amid the bilateral tension stemming from cross-border terrorism sponsored by Islamabad-based terror groups.
However, they played against each other in the ICC tournaments.
Last year, India refused to tour Pakistan to play in the Asia Cup and hence, a hybrid model was adopted.
Under the hybrid model, all India's matches were hosted by Sri Lanka.
However, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has ruled out the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy.
After India refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB is likely to pull out of the tournament entirely.
The Champions Trophy, which will be played for the first time since 2017, is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
Pakistan had won the last Champions Trophy in 2017 thrashing India in the final.