As pressure mounts on Pakistan, Champions Trophy fate to be decided today

The much-awaited ICC Board meeting will decide the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy, amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over hosting arrangements. Here's all that you need to know about the stand-off and the likely talking points during the meeting on Friday.

In Short

• ICC called a meeting on Friday to finalise the Champions Trophy schedule and venue
• Delay in announcing schedule after India refused to travel to Pakistan
• Recent unrest in Pakistan added to the mounting pressure on its cricket board 

The much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted by Pakistan, is shrouded in uncertainty as the ICC Board convenes on November 29 for a critical virtual meeting to decide its fate. With the tournament just months away, the standoff between India and Pakistan remains unresolved. The meeting will be crucial in determining whether a solution can be found to break the deadlock over the tournament’s schedule and venue.

The growing tension surrounding the Champions Trophy reached a new high earlier this week when Sri Lanka’s A team, touring Pakistan, was forced to cut short its series due to violent political protests in Islamabad. These protests, sparked by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party, raised serious concerns about security in the country, making it clear that Pakistan’s ability to host international cricket might be at risk. The PCB was forced to postpone two 50-over matches scheduled between Sri Lanka A and Pakistan Shaheens, marking an early indication of the mounting pressure on Pakistan’s cricket administration.

With the situation in Pakistan uncertain, and India’s refusal to travel to the country due to ongoing security concerns, three key scenarios are being considered by the ICC, India Today has learned.

The Hybrid Model: This solution appears to be the most likely outcome. Under the hybrid model, matches would be played in both Pakistan and a neutral country, such as the UAE. India’s matches would be hosted in the UAE to address their security concerns, while the remaining games would take place in Pakistan. This model was successfully implemented in the 2023 Asia Cup, where Pakistan hosted most of the matches, but India’s games were played in Sri Lanka due to their refusal to travel to Pakistan. The hybrid model offers a compromise that allows both countries to participate while addressing safety issues and ensuring the tournament's success. However, it remains to be seen if more teams cite security concerns after the incident involving Sri Lanka’s A team.

India-Pakistan Matches and Finals in Pakistan: Another option being discussed is hosting India’s matches—and if India reaches the final, the championship match—on Pakistani soil. However, this scenario is less likely, as it would still require India to travel to Pakistan for at least one match, which remains a significant hurdle due to security concerns. While this could be a potential negotiation point for Pakistan, it is expected that the BCCI would resist this option.

Relocating the Entire Tournament: The final possibility is moving the Champions Trophy to another country entirely if a consensus cannot be reached. If the PCB remains insistent on its position against the hybrid model, there is a real risk that the tournament could be relocated. Sri Lanka, which recently hosted the Asia Cup, is seen as a strong contender for this role. However, this would be a major blow to Pakistan, not just in terms of prestige, but also financially, as they stand to lose the USD 65 million hosting fee and additional revenue.

Timeline of Key Developments

• Even as Pakistan intensified the renovation of its infrastructure at three venues—Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi—India, on November 10, wrote to the ICC, informing it that they wouldn’t travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.
• Two days later, the PCB wrote to the ICC seeking clarification on India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, India Today reported. In its letter to the ICC, the PCB requested an official explanation regarding India's stance. The communication from Pakistan did not discuss the event format or a potential hybrid model.
• Amid growing concerns, Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the PCB, reiterated Pakistan’s firm position. He argued that all other teams were willing to travel to Pakistan and suggested that the Pakistan board is prepared to make necessary security assurances to India.
• On November 19, India Today reported that backchannel talks were on to convince Pakistan to agree to the hybrid model. Sources revealed that the PCB was under pressure to adopt a hybrid model following the BCCI’s firm stance on not travelling to Pakistan. During these discussions, the PCB was reminded of the financial consequences of not accommodating India’s concerns.
• Two days before the ICC Board meeting, Naqvi once again spoke out, expressing frustration at India’s stance. He said that it was unacceptable for India to expect Pakistan to travel to India for international tournaments in the future while refusing to host Pakistan. Despite the growing pressure, he remained firm on Pakistan hosting the tournament in its entirety, stating that the PCB was in constant contact with the ICC and that they were still working on resolving the issue.

Why Pakistan May Be Forced to Compromise

Despite its firm position, there are several compelling reasons why Pakistan may eventually have to concede to the hybrid model:

Financial Considerations: Pakistan stands to lose a significant financial windfall—around USD 65 million in hosting fees—if the Champions Trophy is relocated. Additionally, the ICC may offer an even higher hosting fee for a hybrid model, which could tempt the PCB into compromise. Given Pakistan’s reliance on ICC revenue, this is a crucial factor in the decision-making process.

Risk of Being Sidelined in Future Tournaments: If the Champions Trophy is successfully held without Pakistan, it could set a precedent for future tournaments, potentially sidelining Pakistan in the long term. The PCB is keen to avoid this scenario, which could damage Pakistan’s standing in international cricket.

Loss of Future Revenue: Pakistan is one of the largest beneficiaries of the ICC’s revenue-sharing model. Refusing to compromise could jeopardise this revenue stream, which amounts to roughly USD 35 million annually. Given the financial pressures, the PCB is likely to reconsider its position.

The Importance of Hosting Future Tournaments: Pakistan has not hosted an ICC tournament in nearly three decades. A successful Champions Trophy would enhance Pakistan’s prospects of hosting future international cricket events. Conversely, refusal to compromise could discourage other nations from touring Pakistan in the future.

Why a Tournament Without India is Not an Option

There has been some speculation, particularly in Pakistan’s media, about the possibility of hosting a Champions Trophy without India. However, this scenario is not viable from a commercial perspective. India’s participation is crucial for the tournament's success, both in terms of television viewership and sponsorship. Reports indicate that around 80-90% of the ICC’s revenue comes from India, making it impossible for the tournament to succeed without India.