Pakistan Cricket Board accepts 'hybrid model' for Champions Trophy
Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown flexibility by agreeing to accept the 'hybrid model' for hosting the upcoming Champions Trophy, provided the International Cricket Council (ICC) adopts the same approach for global events scheduled in India until 2031, media reports said.
India is set to host three men’s tournaments during this period: the 2026 T20 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 ODI World Cup with Bangladesh.
This marks a notable shift in the PCB's position, as it had earlier threatened to boycott the Champions Trophy if Pakistan was not granted full hosting rights.
If the hybrid model is implemented, India is expected to play its matches in Dubai.
A source told PTI, "The current situation is that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that it will only accept hosting the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model if the board agrees that in the future all ICC events will be on the same system with Pakistan not going to India to play matches."
The source further revealed that the PCB is also pushing for a larger share of ICC revenue, seeking an increase from the current 5.75 percent allocation.
However, Naqvi has not requested additional hosting fees.
"People are saying that Naqvi has sought time to get back after talking to his government, but we don't know if he went there with the backing of the government and had already sought their approval to make his stand in the ICC board's virtual meeting," the source added.
The eight-team Champions Trophy is planned to take place in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, but its future remains uncertain due to the ongoing dispute between the PCB and the BCCI.
The BCCI has already informed the ICC that it will not send its team to Pakistan for the tournament, scheduled for February-March 2025.
Despite discussions during the ICC Board Meeting on Friday, a resolution regarding the tournament’s fate has yet to be reached.
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