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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (November 28, 2024) that it will not accept the Hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, and asked the global governing body not to discuss the option in Friday’s (November 29, 2024) board meeting.

The ICC has convened a meeting of the executive members virtually to resolve the scheduling imbroglio surrounding the marquee event after India’s refusal to send the team across the border.

“I can confirm that PCB has a few hours back told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is not acceptable to them,” a source told PTI.

The PCB has been rigid in its opposition to the hybrid model and had advised the ICC to look at other options to stage the Champions Trophy.

The Pakistan board maintained that having a Hybrid model would mean giving preferential treatment to India.

“I can confirm initially the PCB had looked at the possibility of a Hybrid model on the condition that if India can’t play in Pakistan, then in future there would be Hybrid models in all ICC events in India right until 2031 (ODI World Cup in India and Bangladesh) as Pakistan would not go and play in India,” the source said.

Another source confirmed that PCB has also reminded the ICC to inform whether the BCCI had submitted a letter in writing from their government stating that clearance was not given to the Indian team to play in Pakistan.

“Under ICC regulations if any team says its government is not allowing it to play in another nation on whatever grounds that board has to submit their government’s directives in writing which we have not seen so far,” the source said.

He said the PCB had acknowledged the contribution of the BCCI and Indian market in ICC’s income generation but reminded the ICC that as per numbers from the last few global events Pakistan also played a major part in ensuring the revenues through their matches against India.

He said the ICC has yet to confirm the timing of the virtual meeting.

The ICC finds itself in a spot of bother as its all-powerful board meets on Friday (November 29, 2024) to thrash out the long-awaited schedule of next year’s Champions Trophy with an unyielding Pakistan refusing to consider the ‘Hybrid’ model of hosting the event. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A day before the stand-off over the Champions Trophy venue is expected to be over, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has placed a stringent condition on the hybrid model that is being discussed due to India’s inability to travel to Pakistan for the trophy. The BCCI is set to stick to its stand on not travelling to Pakistan.

With time running out for the tournament that is set to begin on February 20, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has called for an Emergent Meeting of the ICC Board, to be conducted through a conference call, on Friday.

Not travelling

Earlier this month, the BCCI had communicated to ICC that the squad will be unable to travel to Pakistan, based on a consultation with the Indian government.

As a result, the ICC had been in discussion with the PCB over hosting the tournament in Pakistan and Dubai.

On Thursday, the PCB is understood to have written to the ICC stating the hybrid model can be considered “only if the same is employed for other major tournaments to be hosted by India for the remaining tournament cycle” till 2031. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had made the stand clear in a press conference on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the BCCI is understood to remain firm on its stance during Friday’s conference call.

Stand justified

A BCCI insider confirmed to The Hindu that the recent protests in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city, which led to Sri Lanka-A returning home midway through the tour has justified its stand.

“At any cost, we cannot even remotely put our cricketers’ safety in danger,” the source said, citing anonymity.

The ICC Board is likely to agree on India playing its matches, including knockouts, in Dubai.

While at least one semifinal will be played in Pakistan, the knockouts not featuring India are likely to be played in Pakistan.

The ICC Board is likely to agree on India playing its matches, including knockouts, in Dubai