The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy saga only keeps getting more heated as recent reports state that the PCB’s possible boycott of the tournament over Indian players’ demand to play in a neutral venue may land them in financial trouble with the ICC.
Ever since the ICC awarded the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan, there have been concerns over India’s participation in the marquee event given the diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to be in a fix after India refused to travel to the neighbouring country for the Champions Trophy next year. The ICC, on Sunday, wrote to the host board, confirming India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the eight-nation tournament.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has already stated that Pakistan will not come up with a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. And now, reports claim that the government of Pakistan is considering the withdrawal of the country’s cricket team from the tournament.
It is believed that if PCB does indulge in the boycott of the tournament, then the consequences the host nation shall lose out on acquiring the entirety of the hosting fees, amounting to $65 million, along with cuts to the funding they recieve from the ICC.
The BCCI intimating to the ICC about its inability to travel to Pakistan would leave the PCB with no option but to organise the Champions Trophy in the ‘Hybrid Model’. In case they do decide to adopt a hybrid model, according to PTI, the ICC shall assure that the PCB receive “full hosting fees” and get to host “majority of the matches”.
However, board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a press conference that his board had not received any official communication from the BCCI.
“We have a clear stance that they must give it to us in writing if they [the Indian cricket board] have any issues. Till today, we have not spoken about any hybrid model, but we’re ready to speak on this,” Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, told reporters in Lahore recently.
