Champions Trophy: PCB suggest fusion formula

DUBAI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly suggested a new type of hybrid model for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, which would also apply to contests held in India for the next three years, at an International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting held on Saturday.

The PCB have proposed a ‘fusion formula’ in which all of Pakistan’s matches against India in ICC events for the next three years would be played at a neutral location. Dubai is a likely location for all future matchups between the two rivals. This formula would take effect with next years Champions Trophy, and extend to the 2026 T20 World Cup if the ICC and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) find the proposal to be fair and adequate. As the 2026 tournament is being co-hosted by India and Bangladesh, Pakistan presumably play their matches in the latter.

Earlier media reports also suggested that the PCB requested for a larger share of the ICC’s revenue due to the financial burden of staging contests outside of Pakistan. However, the PCB denied such claims, with a board official later stating that they have rejected financial incentives, instead demanding a concrete solution.

“We don’t want money, we want respect,” the official reportedly stated.

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Previously, the PCB and its chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, were steadfast in their stance of not accepting a hybrid model, citing the 2023 Cricket World Cup which was held in India and that Pakistan travelled for.

“Pakistan will not agree to a hosting arrangement where another country becomes involved,” the PCB told the ICC according to sources.

However, the PCB eventually reneged on their stance, on the condition that future ICC contests between the two rivals that are set to be hosted in India for the next three years, will instead also be played at a neutral location.

Dawn reported a PCB source stating that “the ICC has to give a solid guarantee that the hybrid model will be implemented in letter and spirit in future and no Pakistan team will go to India to play any matches of the ICC events and on the same pattern the Indian team will not come to Pakistan.”

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