ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India OUT agenda on ICC's vile plans; massive boost to Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) board is likely to take a final call on the venue for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 when it meets on Friday.

Ongoing saga is showing absolutely little signs of coming to an end. The hosting rights are with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the moment. While PCB wants to host the entire competition in Pakistan, India have made it clear that they won't be crossing the border due to security reasons.

India-Pakistan ties no short of conflicts

There was a similar situation last year as well when the PCB had the hosting rights for the Asia Cup. With the Indian government not giving BCCI the green light to send the team to Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to come up with a hybrid model.

As a result, even though Pakistan hosted a few games, India played all of their games including the final in Sri Lanka. Recent reports stated that the ICC also proposed a similar model but the PCB refused it. With less than three months remaining for the Champions Trophy 2025 to take place, the ICC has found itself in a tough spot.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without India on ICC's agenda:

The governing body, however, needs to find a solution soon to ensure that the Champions Trophy 2025 takes place without any issue. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the apex body of the game is considering three options at the moment.

One of those options is to conduct the entire Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan without Team India. The hybrid model is also on the ICC's agenda along with the option of conducting the entire tournament outside Pakistan. Here are the three options the ICC is exploring at present:

• A hybrid model with Pakistan hosting the majority of matches but the games involving India are played outside of Pakistan.
• The entire Champions Trophy is to be held outside Pakistan with the option of the PCB retaining hosting rights.
• The entire event is played in Pakistan but without India.

Report further stated that the option of playing the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without India is a non-starter because of the negative financial impact it could have on the competition. The hybrid model is also off the table with a PCB official telling the news outlet:

"The PCB has asked the ICC to give a reasonable or acceptable proposal to Pakistan before the ICC Board meeting tomorrow."

PCB denies deterring from stand

The report also stated that the chances of a hybrid model have increased slightly. PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi recently said that the board would take whatever decision the ICC board makes to the Pakistan government. Earlier, he had publicly rejected the hybrid model.

At the same time, Naqvi also threatened that Pakistan would no longer be willing or able to play in India in the future. With India to host a Women's World Cup next year, an Asia Cup in 2025, a Men's T20 World Cup in 2026, and a Champions Trophy in 2029, Pakistan's stance could pose more trouble for the cricketing fraternity.

"Whatever we do, we will make sure the best outcome for Pakistan is achieved," Naqvi said. "But I repeat, and I am sure you know what I mean, it's not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don't come here."