Dubai, December 5, 2024- A critical meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC), initially scheduled for today to discuss the hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, has been postponed once again. The delay follows the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly rejecting a proposal put forward by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), according to Pakistani media sources.
The meeting, which was expected to address the impasse over the tournament, will now be held on December 7. Sources indicate that the delay resulted from India’s lack of response to Pakistan’s proposed “partnership formula” for resolving the dispute.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who arrived in Dubai earlier today, had expressed optimism for a resolution during the meeting. However, the BCCI’s rejection of PCB’s proposals has prolonged the deadlock over the tournament, slated for February-March 2025 in Pakistan.
Key Points of the Deadlock
- BCCI’s Stance: India remains unwilling to send its team to Pakistan, citing security and diplomatic concerns.
- PCB’s Position: The PCB has firmly opposed a hybrid model, which would have seen matches split across different venues, and presented an alternative solution to address India’s reservations.
- Proposed “Partnership Formula”: The latest model under discussion involves Pakistan agreeing not to play its matches in India during ICC events over the next three years. Dubai is being considered as a neutral venue for matches involving the two teams.
India is set to host several ICC tournaments in the coming years, including:
- 2025 Women’s World Cup
- 2026 T20 World Cup (co-hosted with Sri Lanka)
- 2027 Champions Trophy
Under the “partnership formula,” matches between Pakistan and India in these events would also take place at neutral venues, likely Dubai. The ICC has reportedly urged the BCCI to accept the proposed model to avoid legal action by the PCB and resolve the issue amicably without requiring a formal vote. If both parties reach an agreement on the new formula, the need for a board meeting may be eliminated, and the ICC will communicate the developments directly to its members.
The Champions Trophy’s future has been uncertain since India’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan. The PCB, in turn, has maintained that it would not compromise on hosting rights. The ongoing stalemate threatens the tournament’s timeline, but ICC officials are hopeful that a resolution can be reached during the December 7 meeting, if not earlier.
