ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Harbhajan Singh orders PCB to 'set ego aside' and accept hybrid model

The legendary India National Cricket Team off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to keep their ego aside and accept the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Harbhajan Singh said that the India National Cricket Team and Pakistan National Cricket Team, anyway, play very few matches against each other and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash should be played in UAE.

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India not to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

The Indian government has denied permission to send the India National Cricket Team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to security concerns.

This led to India demanding a hybrid model for the competition with the Men In Blue playing all their matches in UAE. PCB was hesitant to accept the hybrid model and wanted to host the entire competition on home soil.

However, the latest reports have suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board has softened its stance.

During a recent meeting between the BCCI and PCB officials, the PCB proposed a "Partnership or Fusion Formula" according to which teams from both nations would play their matches at a neutral venue, Dubai, for all ICC events hosted by either country in the next three years, reported Cricket Pakistan.

However, the reports claim that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has raised an objection over this new formula despite showing interest earlier.

There is a security concern and I have been saying this since 2022 - Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh has said that there is definitely security concern for India National Cricket Team and they should not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The former off-spinner ordered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials to keep their egos aside and accept the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy. Harbhajan Singh said that no player would have any problem playing the India vs Pakistan matches in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

"Ask all players, they would say they are ready to play in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. In any case, we don't see too many Indo-Pak games as such, and Pakistan should keep their ego aside and agree to the 'Hybrid Model'," the legendary India National Cricket Team spinner said, as quoted by PTI.

"There is a security concern and I have been saying this since 2022," he added.

I don't think 38 is old - Harbhajan Singh on Ravichandran Ashwin

Washington Sundar was selected over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth Test against Australia despite his limited experience in Test cricket.

Talking about this, Harbhajan Singh said that the young spin-bowling all-rounder has shown the capability to fill in the shoes of Ravichandran Ashwin and him playing over the veterans is a bold move.

"Washington had showed during the New Zealand series that he is ready to take over the mantle from Ashwin in coming days," the spin-bowling great said.

Harbhajan Singh also made it clear that he doesn't consider the 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin very old and age-factor is not the only reason for him being benched. He said:

"I don't think 38 is old. He is not a 58- year-old. But yes, after so many years, the shoulders do experience fatigue and wear and tear, so the zip can just be a bit less."