Pakistan has remained adamant in hosting ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and have ignored the suggestion for a hybrid model at every stage. Following India’s refusal to travel to the neighbouring nation for the event in February-March 2025, PCB has been in a limbo over their rights to host the tournament – something that will not be a success either financially or diplomatically if India’s choose to not participate.
With the ICC set to meet today to discuss and find a solution for the deadlock between India and Pakistan over CT 2025, a lot of former Pakistan players have thrown their weight behind PCB to host the tournament entirely in Pakistan. The latest to join the trend is former skipper Shahid Afridi. But will a Champions Trophy without India ever help the ICC? Reports of the financial repercussions for the global body without India’s participation have already made rounds, and it won’t be the wisest of the things for Pakistan to do.
Shahid Afridi wants only Pakistan to host Champions Trophy 2025
While many former Pakistan cricketers have voiced their opinion for the country to solely host Champions Trophy 2025, Shahid Afridi is the latest to join the list. The former Pakistan captain condemned the BCCI for “intertwining politics with cricket” and backed the PCB’s stance to oppose a hybrid model for the tournament. Afridi called upon the ICC to uphold fairness and assert their authority in terms of deciding where the tournament will be held.
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ICC’s delay in announcing the schedule for Champions Trophy 2025 has also impacted the broadcasters. Jio Star (JioCinema + Disney Hotstar) have been left hanging over the CT 2025 schedule owing to the deadlock between India and Pakistan.
ICC Champions Trophy row ft. India & Pakistan
The ICC, along with its board members will meet on Friday and is likely to ask all its members to vote for a solution to decide on the venue for Champions Trophy 2025. India last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 for Asia Cup following which geopolitical tensions between the two countries forced the former to boycott cricket in the latter. Since then, the two sides have met only at ICC events in neutral venues.
Dragging India to court for refusing to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 was one of the threats issued by Pakistan. The other threats include withdrawing from the tournament if a hybrid model is adopted, boycotting future ICC events where India will be participating in and writing a letter to the ICC seeking clarity on why India refused to travel to Pakistan. The PCB has even threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not play in CT 2025.
