Will Pakistan accept the “hybrid” Champions Trophy project? PCB chief attends big meeting amid accommodation row

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Emirates Cricket Board Chairman Mubashir Usmani in Dubai amid deliberations on a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy to be held in February-March of next year. According to a PCB statement regarding the meeting, Naqvi told Usmani that Pakistan was ready to host the Champions Trophy and all preparations were on schedule. Usmani is also chairman of the ICC Associate Members Committee. According to sources, Naqvi also said that the situation in Pakistan was stable and all teams participating in the mega-event would be provided with state-level security. He said the construction work of the stadiums that will host the tournament was also on schedule and the people of Pakistan were looking forward to watching the country’s best teams and players play.

The International Cricket Council on Friday asked Pakistan to either accept the “hybrid” model of hosting next year’s Champions Trophy or prepare to be ousted from the event after the categorical stance of the PCB led to an inconclusive meeting of its board of directors.

The emergency meeting in Dubai was supposed to discuss the timing of the event in February-March next year, but failed to reach consensus after Pakistan once again rejected the ‘hybrid’ model », despite India’s firm refusal to go there for security reasons.

It is understood that most of the ICC board members were sympathetic to Pakistan’s situation, but Naqvi was nevertheless advised to accept the “hybrid” model as the only “plausible solution” to the imbroglio current.

If a ‘hybrid’ model is adopted, India’s share of the Champions Trophy matches will be played in the UAE.