India might be out of Champions Trophy 2025: Here is why

The ICC will have a virtual meeting on Friday to clarify the uncertainty surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tension has been escalating as India refused to travel to Pakistan, and that now hangs in the balance over the future of the tournament.

According to sources, the ICC is weighing options. They include carrying out the tournament in Pakistan minus India. That is hardly possible considering India’s big commercial leverage. The third option could be a hybrid model. Under this proposition, Pakistan host most games, while India play at a neutral venue – the UAE for example.

The PCB has already rejected the hybrid model. According to PCB officials, no match, especially those of Pakistan, should be held outside Pakistan. A source in the ICC said that a Champions Trophy without the Pakistan-India match would face too much resistance since the India-Pakistan clash is the most financially and competitively important match in the event.

Other options that have been on the table include holding the entire tournament at a neutral venue or postponing it altogether to a later date. Speculation is also that the ICC might look at stripping Pakistan of hosting rights to force the PCB to compromise, something the board is expected to resist vehemently.

The PCB has formally requested the ICC to present clear and actionable proposals during the meeting. Moreover, it has also demanded that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must provide a written explanation of its refusal to tour Pakistan, supported by evidence.

Late Wednesday, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, assuring stakeholders that the board remains committed to protecting Pakistan cricket’s interests. He dismissed any possibility of compromising on hosting rights for financial gains, reiterating Pakistan’s firm stance.

Friday’s meeting will test the ICC’s ability to navigate this diplomatic and logistical impasse, as the clock ticks toward the Champions Trophy’s scheduled start in 2025.

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Pakistan secures 2025 Champions Trophy hosting rights