Board members will discuss various options including adopting hybrid model, say sources
\n KARACHI
\nThe International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday called a board meeting on November 29 to deliberate on the future of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan in February-March next year.
\nThe meeting will be held online, and all board members have been provided with the agenda, an ICC spokesperson confirmed.
\nAccording to sources, the meeting will discuss the future of the tournament following India\u2019s refusal to tour Pakistan for the tournament.
\nThe ICC board members will be discussing various options including adopting a hybrid model, relocating the event entirely, or postponing the tournament.
\nSources further revealed that the ICC board is inclined toward implementing a hybrid model as a primary solution. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already voiced its opposition to this approach.
\nThe ICC Board is expected to make a final decision after considering feedback and recommendations from its members during the meeting.
\nThe board comprises 12 full members, three associate members, and one independent director.
\nEarlier on November 20, it was reported that the ambiguity surrounding the tournament was expected to linger on due to the likelihood of a delay in the announcement of the schedule.
\nThe ICC had officially demanded a written explanation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over its refusal after the PCB requested the ICC to provide a copy of India\u2019s written response regarding the decision against attending the mega-event.
\nApart from the PCB\u2019s stance, the refusal of broadcasters and commercial partners to accept a schedule that does not feature a Pakistan-India match \u2014 which brings significant eyes and therefore generates valuable revenue \u2014 has also added to the ICC\u2019s woes.
\nFurthermore, they also had warned of legal action if the tournament does not include a contest between the arch-rivals.
\nThe sources had said that the announcement of the schedule will be possible in a couple of days if the stakeholders show flexibility.
\nStakeholders are in favour of holding the event with mutual consensus, they had added.
\nMeanwhile, the international cricketing body is striving to come up with a solution before BCCI Secretary Jay Shah takes charge as ICC Chairman on December 1.
\nIt is pertinent to mention that in recent years, the ICC has made sure that India play Pakistan at least once in each of the global cricketing events, ensuring a major chunk of revenue from this game.
\nThe match between arch-rivals at the 2023 World Cup drew unprecedented interest, with 173 million viewers on Indian TV and 225 million digital viewers.
\nThe ICC, which secured $3.2 billion from broadcast rights for the 2024-2027 cycle and anticipates $1 billion more in other revenue, relies heavily on marquee events featuring Pakistan and India.
\nIt is to be noted that India have not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the BCCI declined to send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, leading to a hybrid format with later stages held in Sri Lanka.
\nHowever, Pakistan did visit India soon after for the 2023 ODI World Cup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Board members will discuss various options including adopting hybrid model, say sources KARACHI The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday called a board meeting on November 29 to deliberate on the future of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan in February-March next year. The meeting will be held online, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-445980","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n