Dubai, November 26, 2024 – The International Cricket Council (ICC) will hold a crucial board meeting on November 29 to determine the location and format of the 2025 Champions Trophy. With India refusing to travel to Pakistan and Pakistan unwilling to adopt a hybrid model allowing India to play their matches in a neutral country, the board may be forced to vote on a final resolution.
A leading cricket website reports that the meeting will be virtual, and a decision could be reached after the ICC Board reaches a consensus.
While the tournament window has been scheduled between February 19 and March 2025, the ICC has yet to announce specific dates or a formal schedule. Typically, the ICC reveals the schedule for global events at least 100 days before the start.
The delay in announcing the tournament details is primarily due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow their national team to travel to Pakistan, a decision communicated to the ICC two weeks ago. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which was awarded hosting rights for the Champions Trophy in 2021, has sought clarification from the ICC regarding the BCCI’s position and when the refusal was communicated. However, the PCB has yet to receive a response from the ICC.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has remained firm on hosting the tournament in Pakistan, with matches planned across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Last week, he expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to resolve the deadlock. An ICC spokesperson confirmed the meeting for November 29, although the PCB has not made any public comments.
The ICC Board comprises representatives from the 12 Full Member countries, three representatives from Associate Members, along with an independent director, the ICC chairman, and CEO. This meeting is particularly significant as it will be the last chaired by Greg Barclay, whose tenure ends on December 1. He will be succeeded by Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and a key figure in the Champions Trophy issue.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, has been preoccupied in recent days with efforts to manage political protests in Islamabad led by PTI, the party of former Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan.
