A ‘hybrid mannequin’ to host subsequent 12 months’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan stays an choice as India’s participation can’t be determined by the ICC if there’s a authorities coverage towards it, a supply within the governing physique’s omnipotent government board informed PTI on Friday. The ICC board assembly is presently underway in Dubai. The Champions Trophy, which might be held in February-March 2025, isn’t on the agenda however newly-elected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has acknowledged that he needs to talk along with his BCCI counterpart Jay Shah in addition to ICC bigwigs on the sidelines, in search of some form of assurance.

However, an ICC Board member, who’s aware of the developments, feels that any determination by BCCI, will solely be taken nearer to the match and as soon as once more, the thought of utilizing UAE as a possible venue can’t be totally discarded.

“Every member can raise concerns for discussion at Board meetings and then it would go to a vote. But if the government (of a member nation) expressly say that they can’t play there, ICC would need to look for an alternative,” a veteran administrator, who has attended a number of board conferences, informed PTI on circumstances of anonymity.

“….because ICC Board’s position remains that it doesn’t expect its members to go against any policy/instructions issued by its own government,” he mentioned.

Teams from England, Australia, New Zealand have all travelled to Pakistan in current previous and the BCCI will even be underneath stress to go to the strife-torn nation for the multi-nation engagement.

Asked if any hesitation from India would result in a vote towards the nation, the supply mentioned such a state of affairs wouldn’t come up if there’s a authorities directive.

“Don’t forget threat perception for an Indian cricket team would always be higher compared to Australia, England and New Zealand,” mentioned a former BCCI office-bearer, who’s conscious of the internal workings of the worldwide physique.

Will diplomacy work? ============= In January-February, the Indian Davis Cup crew was in Islamabad for its World Group Play-off tie and the gamers in addition to the help workers had been glad with the safety preparations.

However, the stakes are significantly larger in relation to the Indian cricket crew that includes superstars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.

“The BCCI would obviously be compelled to look at it from the point of view that Pakistan government allowed its team to play in the World Cup in India last year.

“So, this being a world occasion and never a continental one like Asia Cup, the Indian authorities may take a softer stance. BCCI president Roger Binny and VP Rajiv Shukla had travelled to Pakistan in the course of the Asia Cup,” hoped the ICC board member.

Hybrid Model

The Champions Trophy, which originally started in 1998 as the ‘Mini World Cup’, is played between top eight teams in the ICC ODI Rankings. The last edition was held in 2017 in England and Wales and in the interim, ICC couldn’t fit the tournament in an already packed calender for top cricket boards, who also now own lucrative T20 leagues.

In 2023, after the Indian government didn’t allow its team to travel to Pakistan, it was held in ‘Hybrid Model’ with India playing all their matches, including both against Pakistan, in Sri Lanka.

With February and March being two ideal months to play cricket in the UAE and three international stadiums ready for use, it could well be the second country in a ‘Hybrid Model’ in case India doesn’t want to travel to Pakistan.

The eight teams are expected to be divided into two groups and India’s group matches could well be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.