Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently met with Mubashir Usmani, the head of the Emirates Cricket Board, in Dubai to discuss a potential “hybrid” model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled for February-March. The meeting was part of ongoing talks aimed at resolving the venue issue for the tournament, which Pakistan is set to host. Despite security concerns raised by India, which has refused to travel to Pakistan, Naqvi emphasized that the situation in Pakistan was stable, and the country was ready to host the event, with all preparations progressing as planned.Pakistan may agree to a ‘hybrid’ Champions Trophy plan as PCB chief attends key meeting amid hosting dispute.
Naqvi assured Usmani that the stadiums for the Champions Trophy were on schedule for completion and that all participating teams would receive high-level security during the tournament. He highlighted the excitement among Pakistan’s cricket fans to witness top international teams playing on home soil.
However, the discussions around the hosting arrangements were complicated by India’s refusal to play in Pakistan due to security concerns, which led to the proposal of a “hybrid” hosting model. In this model, some matches would be played in Pakistan, while others, particularly India’s matches, would take place in the UAE. Despite Pakistan’s initial resistance to the hybrid plan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) urged the PCB to accept it to avoid being excluded from hosting the Champions Trophy altogether.Pakistan may agree to a ‘hybrid’ Champions Trophy plan as PCB chief attends key meeting amid hosting dispute.
The ICC’s executive board had convened an emergency meeting in Dubai to finalize the event’s schedule, but the meeting ended without a resolution after Pakistan stood firm on hosting all the matches in the country. While many ICC board members expressed sympathy for Pakistan’s position, they advised the PCB that a hybrid model seemed to be the only viable solution to accommodate all parties involved.Pakistan may agree to a ‘hybrid’ Champions Trophy plan as PCB chief attends key meeting amid hosting dispute.
If the hybrid model is approved, India’s Champions Trophy matches will be shifted to the UAE, ensuring that both teams can participate in the tournament while addressing security concerns. The situation remains fluid as both the PCB and the ICC continue to negotiate the terms for the upcoming event.
