Sat Nov 30 15:12:33 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Agrees to Hybrid Model for 2025 Champions Trophy, But With Conditions

**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly agreed to a hybrid model for hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy, but only under certain conditions. The decision follows a protracted debate over the tournament’s location, stemming from India’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan due to government policy.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had presented the hybrid model as the only viable option, threatening to move the tournament to another country if Pakistan didn’t agree. While the PCB has now conceded, it has stipulated several key conditions:

* **India’s matches in Dubai:** All matches involving the Indian cricket team – including group stage, semi-finals, and final (if they qualify) – would be held in Dubai. This addresses India’s security concerns.
* **Lahore as backup:** Should India fail to progress beyond the group stage, Pakistan will host the semi-finals and final in Lahore.
* **Neutral venues for future ICC events:** The PCB has demanded that if India hosts future ICC events, Pakistan’s matches be played at neutral venues as a reciprocal measure.

The agreement comes after several postponements of ICC meetings to discuss the tournament’s logistics. The PCB’s initial resistance to the hybrid model forced the ICC’s hand, highlighting the geopolitical complexities surrounding international cricket. The final agreement still needs formal approval but represents a significant step towards resolving the impasse. The PCB’s conditions, however, introduce a potential new layer of negotiation with the ICC and the BCCI.

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