Pakistan to accept ‘hybrid’ Champions Trophy plan, but on 3 conditions: report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is ready to accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025, according to a report in India Today. India refused to travel to Pakistan for the competition citing security concerns and several media outlets suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) wanted Pakistan to agree to a hybrid hosting model. However, the report claims that the CPC has placed three conditions on this scenario. Although nothing official has been announced by either the ICC or the PCB, the report claims that India will play their games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Return to the conditions put forward by PCB to accept a hybrid Champions Trophy –

The matches involving the Indian cricket team will take place in Dubai. This includes group stage matches as well as the semi-finals and final (if they qualify).

If India fails to progress past the group stages of the competition, Pakistan will host the semi-final and final in Lahore.

If India hosts future ICC events, Pakistan will play their matches at neutral venues.

Meanwhile, 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 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.

(With PTI inputs)