Champions Trophy: ICC chairman Jay Shah and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi© AFP

As the world awaits a decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the fate of the Champions Trophy 2025 with both India and Pakistan playing hardball, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal says ICC should not schedule Indo-Pak matches till the two countries resume bilateral cricket. Akmal said there should be no matches between the two countries in multi-national events till a permanent solution is found to this issue. He said if a hybrid model is accepted for the Champions Trophy, it should be the norm for ICC events hosted in India.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is slated to be played in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. However, it has run into uncertainty after BCCI said it did not have the Indian government’s consent to travel and play its matches in Pakistan.

A virtual ICC Board meeting lasted just 15 minutes on Friday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to budge from its stance against a hybrid model with all India matches, one semifinal and the final to be played outside Pakistan.

With the ICC set to decide on the Champions Trophy soon, Akmal said it is time to find a permanent solution to this problem.

“The ICC has to make a decision sometime and I think this is the right time to find a permanent solution. If this Champions Trophy adopts a hybrid model with India not coming to Pakistan, then all other ICC events in India should adopt the same pattern with Pakistan not touring India,” Kamran told Telecom Asia Sport in an exclusive interview.

“In my opinion, another solution is that the ICC should not schedule Indo-Pak matches until and unless there is a bilateral series. Once they start playing each other then only we should have matches in a multi-national event,” Akmal was quoted as saying by the website.

“I am disappointed to see such a scenario but enough is enough as Pakistan have toured India despite one 2016 World Cup match shifted from Dharamshala to Kolkata and then Pakistan played in Ahmedabad last year despite reservations.

“Pakistan will have to take a strong decision and stick to it. That will help Pakistan create a good image,” he said.

Akmal labelled India’s policy of not touring Pakistan but wanting them to play in India as “double standard”.

“On one hand they don’t want to play us in Pakistan on political issues but on the other hand they play us in their country and that is a double standard,” said Akmal.

Pakistan have not hosted an ICC event since 1996 while India have refused to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attack over Pakistan’s polity to support terrorism in India. The last bilateral series between the two countries was in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for five-match white-ball series.

The Champions Trophy is the latest event to be caught in the crossfire. Last year, Pakistan were forced to host the Asia Cup in a hybrid model with all matches involving India, a semifinal and final being played in Sri Lanka.

The ICC meeting, which will decide the fate of the Champions Trophy 2025, has been adjourned for Saturday after suggestions and discussions from all sides, sources said. With India firmly holding on to its decision not to travel to Pakistan for the tournament and the hosts adamant about their stance on organising the entire event in Pakistan, the ICC decided to hold a meeting to arrive at a conclusion. According to sources, Friday’s meeting, in which all members were present, has been adjourned for Saturday. 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is also likely to attend the meeting. “ICC meeting on the Champions trophy has been adjourned for tomorrow after suggestions and discussions from all sides. (PCB chairman) Mohsin Naqvi is likely to attend the meeting in person. All the member countries were there, and ICC trying to find a solution for the tournament,” sources said.

According to Pakistan-based Geo News, ICC has also instructed the participants of the meeting to figure out a solution regarding the fate of the tournament, which will be held next year in Pakistan.

The report stated citing sources that the meeting lasted for around 15 minutes and was attended by officials from the PCB and BCCI.

It added that both the PCB and the BCCI would find an option “acceptable to all” with the assistance of the ICC.

“A logical option will be explored for the Champions Trophy in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Geo News quoted the source, adding that the boards will give their final opinion after consulting their respective governments.

Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, comprising white-ball matches. After that, India and Pakistan have primarily faced each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.

With the hybrid model always in play, the PCB chairman had previously brushed away the idea of hosting the tournament in such a fashion. Recently, he promised that the board is trying to do what is best for Pakistan cricket.

“Our stance is very clear. I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m constantly in touch with the ICC chairman, and my team is talking to them constantly. We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know,” Naqvi was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.