A day after a virtual ICC board meeting concluded without finalizing the venue for the Champions Trophy in 2025, a final decision remains elusive. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was in Dubai today and as he watched Pakistan Under-19’s victory over India, the question of whether the PCB, BCCI and ICC had reached an agreement for next year’s tournament was even more intriguing.
As he did early Thursday morning, Naqvi did not categorically rule out a hybrid model for hosting the tournament, which he has done in the past. “We will do whatever is best for cricket,” he told reporters in Dubai. “If we adopt another formula [except hosting the tournament in Pakistan]this will be done on the basis of equality. The most important thing for Pakistan is its respect; everything else is secondary. »
Once again, Naqvi repeated what he had repeatedly stated at Gaddafi Stadium earlier in the week. “A unilateral arrangement is no longer acceptable. We cannot continue to go to India, but they are not going to Pakistan. Whatever happens, it must be on the basis of equality.”
What form such an arrangement might take remains unclear. Sources told PK Press Club that Pakistan was seeking a fair solution over a three-year period where any arrangements made for the Champions Trophy would be replicated for tournaments hosted in India.
Naqvi’s repeated comments on “equality” sparked speculation that the CPC would seek certain concessions if it agreed to a hybrid model in any form. This could involve an agreement that India would play its matches outside Pakistan, but a decision that any future tournaments India hosts would offer arrangements allowing Pakistan to play its matches outside India. There is also the possibility of some financial reward for the PCB in addition to such an arrangement, although Naqvi said earlier this week that decisions would not be based on money.
PK Press Club understands that a decision is expected to be made in the coming days, although Naqvi’s comments suggest there are still important details to be ironed out. In all likelihood, any proposal will have to be submitted to the Indian and Pakistani governments before being presented to the ICC for approval; The Indian government has denied India permission to visit Pakistan and as a result, the PCB has repeatedly said that any action taken will have to be approved by its government.
“We need to settle this once and for all,” Naqvi said. “And whatever happens, everyone must be treated equally. Any agreement will not only be about the Champions Trophy, but about the long term.”
The tournament is scheduled to begin in less than 90 days, on February 19. Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are the planned venues to host the games, but if a hybrid option is chosen it will involve another venue outside Pakistan. The UAE, where Naqvi met ECB officials earlier today, is the frontrunner in such a scenario.
