PCB tells ICC hybrid model not acceptable for Champions Trophy
PCB questions why India is refusing to travel to Pakistan while other teams are willing
LAHORE :Following government instructions, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a firm stance on hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
According to sources, the PCB, under government directives, has sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), informing them of the Pakistan government’s strong position on the matter.
The letter also requested clarification from the ICC regarding India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, asking for solid reasons behind their stance.
The sources further revealed that the PCB had made it clear in the letter that the Champions Trophy would be held in Pakistan, and that the hybrid model (which involves splitting the tournament between multiple countries) would not be accepted.
The PCB questioned why India was refusing to travel to Pakistan while other teams were willing.
The letter also stated that the Champions Trophy could still be held without India, with another team invited to replace them if necessary.
According to sources, the government gave “policy guidelines to the PCB regarding India.”
They said that the PCB would involve the International Cricket Council (ICC) requesting the governing body to ask India to give concrete reasons for the refusal of the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to play in Pakistan.
Sources said that the government has suggested the PCB that if the Indian team was not ready to play in Pakistan, it should consider inviting another team.
They said that the government urged the PCB “to make it clear to the Indian Cricket Board that the profit was not only due to India, but it was due to Pakistan.”
The government told the PCB that if India did not come to Pakistan, the national team would not play against India in any ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournament.
The government conveyed to the PCB that it should take the ICC into confidence and contact other boards and in case of India’s refusal, work should be done to invite Sri Lanka or West Indies.
The BCCI had a couple of days ago informed the ICC of its decision not to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
