Sat Nov 30 14:23:05 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan to Host Part of 2025 Champions Trophy in Hybrid Model
**Dubai/Lahore, Pakistan** – Pakistan will partially host the 2025 Champions Trophy, adopting a hybrid model after India refused to send its team to the country due to security concerns. The decision follows negotiations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC, facing a stalemate after India’s government confirmed it would not allow its team to travel to Pakistan, proposed a compromise. All matches involving India, including potential semi-finals and finals, will be held in Dubai. Should India fail to reach the knockout stages, Pakistan will host the remaining matches in Lahore.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi accepted the proposal, but with conditions. Crucially, the PCB has demanded that if India hosts future ICC events, Pakistan’s matches should be played at neutral venues. While the PCB initially sought to fully host the tournament, the hybrid model ensures its participation while addressing India’s concerns. Financial arrangements for the Dubai matches, including gate revenue, will remain solely with the Emirates Cricket Board.
The November 29th ICC board meeting, attended by representatives from all member nations, did not reach a formal consensus but the PCB’s agreement clears a significant hurdle. The tournament, already delayed due to scheduling issues, is scheduled for February 19th to March 9th. The Ministry of External Affairs of India and the BCCI reiterated their position citing security concerns as the reason for India’s non-participation in Pakistan. This hybrid model, though a compromise, safeguards the tournament’s progression amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.
First Piper 