- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 01 Dec 2024 04:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Champions Trophy 2024: The PCB and the BCCI have changed their earlier stances and have agreed to play in their upcoming matches of ICC tournaments in a hybrid model and have put all the speculations surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy to an end. Both the boards had a word on Saturday, especially after the ICC held a meeting on Friday and came to a conclusion of accepting the hybrid model for the upcoming mega-event, which would be held next year since the Indian government didn't allow the Men in Blue to travel to Pakistan but the PCB emphasised that they would also follow the same when any ICC tournament is being held in these two countries for the next three years.
The ICC would be giving the final decision about the Champions Trophy being held in a hybrid model. The PCB had remained firm on its stance for not accepting the hybrid model since the Babar Azam-led side had traveled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup. India is expected to follow the same as Pakistan would be holding an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996 and has also informed the BCCI that they won't be complying with any more of their favors.
“Yes the past experience is bitter for Pakistan and the ICC has to give a solid guarantee that the hybrid model will be implemented in letter and spirit in the future and no Pakistan team will go to India to play any matches of the ICC events and on the same pattern the Indian team will not come to Pakistan” a PCB source was quoted as saying to Dawn.
The source also revealed that ICC had urged both boards to arrive at a conclusion mutually before the global cricketing body took its final decision. The ICC did conduct an online meeting in Dubai earlier this week but then it was adjourned for the next day. The meeting again wasn't held on Saturday as the two cricket boards were still having a discussion on this matter.
“As there will be holidays in the UAE till Tuesday due to the country’s national day, the meeting could be held at any time to announce the decision," the source added.
The PCB had requested the BCCI to show proof stating that the Indian government hasn't allowed them to go to Pakistan owing to security reasons and the source later revealed that no such proof was shown to them.
“Indirectly, in the backdoor channels, the BCCI had been warned that as it has no letter from its government and had also agreed with the PCB’s Master Security Plan for the Champions Trophy, presented in the ICC’s meeting on Oct 21, it would have a weak case if the PCB was to approach the Court for Arbitration in Sport", the source further revealed.
India is one of the most influential members of ICC since it earns the majority of its income and the source also revealed that the PCB could ask for a greater, especially for matches between India and Pakistan.
“The PCB may raise these points before the ICC to get its due share from its income in the future, once the issue of the Champions Trophy settles,” the source concluded.