The International Cricket Council (ICC) has called a meeting of its board of directors to resolve the deadlock surrounding the Champions Trophy, which has faced uncertainty due to India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan.
The meeting, set to be held online on Friday (November 29), is expected to arrive at a final decision that will be binding on all member boards.
Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) consistently opposing the idea of a hybrid model for the February 19-March 9, 15-game competition, it appears the ICC may have limited alternatives.
A hybrid model, proposing 10 games in Pakistan and five in another country – including one semifinal and the final – is likely to be presented during the discussions.
As a potential compromise, the ICC may attempt to reduce the impact of the hybrid model by agreeing to host both semifinals and the final in Pakistan, in the unlikely event that India fails to qualify for the final stages.
While such a solution would present significant operational and logistical challenges, this concession may be offered to the PCB under the exceptional circumstances.
Venues will be prepared in advance, with hotel and travel arrangements in place.
At this point, the ICC has yet to make a final decision on where to host India’s games.
While the UAE – with venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – is a convenient alternative, South Africa remains a strong contender due to favorable weather conditions during that time of year.
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) are expected to be approached for discussions soon, if not already.
It seems unlikely that the PCB will immediately accept the ICC’s possible decision in favor of a hybrid model.
However, with an overwhelming majority of the ICC board, and possibly a vote among the 14 board members, supporting the proposal, the PCB may have little choice but to comply.
The ICC board could also propose relocating the entire tournament away from Pakistan if the hybrid model is rejected.
The situation may unfold as follows: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi could request time to consult with the Pakistan government, asking for 24-48 hours to present the facts about the ICC’s stance and the overwhelming support for the hybrid model.
The PCB and government may eventually relent, recognizing that a Champions Trophy without India would be unsustainable for the ICC and the broader cricket ecosystem.
The PCB could face significant financial losses if the tournament is moved out of Pakistan.
The decision may have immediate consequences, with Pakistan possibly opting out of future tournaments to be hosted in India, including next year’s Women’s World Cup, the men’s Asia Cup, and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
However, these decisions may be made at a later stage.
The impact of Pakistan’s potential withdrawal from the Women’s World Cup remains uncertain.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which recently sold the broadcast rights to Sony for $170 million, may consider relocating next year’s Asia Cup host from India to Sri Lanka or Bangladesh in order to balance the situation.
Sri Lanka A Withdraws from A Series
The scheduling of the ICC meeting coincides with the withdrawal of the Sri Lanka A team from their ongoing series against Shaheens due to political unrest in Pakistan.
The Sri Lanka A team had arrived in Islamabad on November 8 for a five-match series, including two four-day games and three one-dayers.
While three of the matches were completed, the remaining two one-dayers, scheduled for Wednesday and Friday in Rawalpindi, have been canceled following Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) decision to pull out.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed SLC’s decision, stating in a release: “The Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket, has postponed the last two 50-over matches of the Pakistan Shaheens-Sri Lanka ‘A’ series due to political activity in the federal capital.”
However, PCB sources sought to minimize the impact of the SLC’s withdrawal, emphasizing that political unrest and security concerns are separate issues.
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