2025 Champions Trophy standoff: Report claims South Africa could host ICC event if Pakistan rejects hybrid model
The standoff over the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy continues in the wake of India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the multi-national tournament. With the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also unwilling to compromise and settle on a hybrid model, reports have now emerged that the tournament could be shifted entirely to South Africa if no solution to the impasse is found soon.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the ICC that the Men in Blue won't travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The ICC has intimated the PCB of the same and the Pakistan Cricket Board is now in talks with the government, seeking their advice and guidance on the matter.
As per many media reports, India are ready to participate in the Champions Trophy if it is held in a hybrid model. They are reportedly happy with playing their matches in Dubai. However, a few days back, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told the media that the cricket board would not agree to any matches being played outside Pakistan.
A report in Sports Tak has now claimed that if the PCB doesn't agree to host the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model, the entire ICC tournament will be shifted to South Africa.
Pakistan planning to pull out of 2025 Champions Trophy, boycott matches with India: Reports
Meanwhile, reports emerging from local media in Pakistan have claimed that PCB is planning to pull out of the Champions Trophy. Further, some reports have stated that the government is likely to ask the PCB to boycott matches with the Men in Blue until the Indian government changes its stance over not visiting Pakistan for cricket matches.
As per a report in The Dawn, Pakistan are considering withdrawing from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy if their hosting rights are taken away due to India's unwillingness to travel to Pakistan.
"In such a case, one of the options the government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don't participate in the Champions Trophy," a source was quoted as telling The Dawn.
Meanwhile, according to another report in news agency PTI, the ICC has assured the PCB that it will receive ‘full hosting fees’ and also get to host the majority of games in the Champions Trophy if it agrees to the hybrid model.