Gee, I thought Pakistan have won the World Cup! Err, the Champions Trophy.
On Thursday evening, after an informal meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) directors, news emerged that there was a breakthrough in sight in the 2025 Champions Trophy impasse. As RevSportz reported, the ICC, the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have moved closer to reaching an agreement to play the tournament in a hybrid model. In exchange, all the India-Pakistan matches at the ICC events would follow a similar arrangement until 2027. A large section of the Pakistani fans – the keyboard warriors and troll army – construed it as a win for their country, a “tit-for-tat” reciprocation between India and Pakistan. On social media, they were redefining ecstasy.
The PCB, led by its chairman Mohsin Naqvi, was muddying its spats over the Champions Trophy issue. Naqvi reportedly told his friends in the Pakistani media that he would have “good news” for them on November 7, when after a board meeting, the ICC is expected to announce the “amicable settlement”. He was blowing his trumpet, and it was amazing that so many people across the border danced to its tune. Reality died a thousand deaths.
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In its communication to the ICC, the BCCI requested that the Champions Trophy, scheduled in February-March next year, be played in a hybrid model, as the Indian government didn’t give the approval to send the team to Pakistan due to security reasons. The BCCI wanted India to play their matches in Dubai. As it turned out, the tournament would be played in a hybrid model, with India playing their matches in Dubai. A semi-final and the final, too, would be played there if India qualify. Who won?
The PCB remained steadfast about not accepting a hybrid model and wanted the entire tournament to be played in Pakistan. But as it stood alone in the ICC, with all the other participating boards siding with the BCCI, the Pakistan cricket hierarchy accepted the hybrid model. Who lost?
Sources said the PCB went to the global body with five demands for accepting the hybrid model. Four were struck down. It wanted all the India-Pakistan matches in the ICC tournaments until 2031 be played in a hybrid model. It got a three-year allowance instead. The PCB wanted added revenue, apart from the hosting fee, and also an increase in its revenue share from the ICC’s earning for the 2024-2027 cycle. That will stay put at 5.75 per cent. The PCB wanted a written guarantee from the BCCI on playing the future India-Pakistan matches in a hybrid model. The Indian cricket board refused to accede. The PCB also wanted a tri-series involving India as compensation. Its wish was snubbed.
According to sources, Naqvi, along with other board members, had a meeting with the ICC’s newly elected chair Jay Shah in Dubai. A hybrid model for India-Pakistan matches until 2027 was, in fact, a face-saver. India is set to host the 2025 women’s World Cup, while the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup would be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. As regards women’s cricket, does the PCB take it seriously? Only a few days ago, a purported video of former Pakistan cricketer Sana Mir talking about women’s team players not getting their salaries for the last four-five months went viral. Also, Pakistan haven’t qualified for the 2025 women’s World Cup yet, and that can be kept out of the ambit for the moment.
At the 2026 T20 World Cup, Pakistan can play their matches in Sri Lanka. If there’s an India-Pakistan game, India would go there and play. The arrangement offers barely any difference to the 2011 ODI World Cup, when Pakistan played their matches in Sri Lanka before coming to Mohali for the semi-final. This time, playing the India game at a neutral venue would be a consolation.
To be fair, Shah was accommodative and acted like the head of world cricket. The Champions Trophy wasn’t taken out of Pakistan. Throughout, he has been talking about taking the game to “unprecedented heights” via a collective effort. “I am confident that together we will deliver on this vision,” he said after checking in at the ICC headquarters.
Also Read: Breakthrough in sight in Champions Trophy impasse