ICC ready for Champions Trophy with or without Pakistan as cricket boards back BCCI over PCB

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is willing to let the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bask in their sadness and move ahead with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After trying to play the middleman and try to end the impasse between the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ICC has decided it might be the right time to pick a side.

ICC’s hurry for announcing Champions Trophy 2025 schedule

Given the majority of viewership and revenue comes from the BCCI and the Indian cricket team, the ICC is ready to move the Champions Trophy 2025 completely out of Pakistan if the PCB doesn’t agree with a hybrid model. The original plan was to discuss the schedule for the 8-team tournament yesterday in a meeting. For the unaware, the ICC has to announce the schedule for an event 100 days before it starts, but due to the tiff between the BCCI and the PCB, that deadline has already been missed.

No support for PCB at ICC meeting

The meeting, which should have lasted hours, was over in 15 minutes as PCB refused to back down from their position that they should be the lone hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025. None of the other boards in the meeting joined their fight, silently favouring BCCI/India. There will be further talks, especially between the BCCI and PCB, but as it stands, the tournament might even be shifted out of Pakistan entirely if a conclusion isn’t reached soon. One can’t forget, the starting date is February 19, which is less than 3 months away. 

“All members are aware of India’s stance and aligned with their decision of not travelling to Pakistan due to no clearance from the government. At this stage, don’t be surprised if the tournament is played out of Pakistan, and even without Pakistan. If PCB doesn’t accept the hybrid model, there is a bright possibility of that happening too,” an ICC official told the Times of India. 

Champions Trophy: PCB’s Proposed Schedule

• February 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi
• February 20: Bangladesh vs India – Lahore
• February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Karachi
• February 22: Australia vs England – Lahore
• February 23: New Zealand vs India – Lahore
• February 24: Pakistan vs Bangladesh  – Rawalpindi
• February 25: Afghanistan vs England – Lahore
• February 26:  Australia vs South Africa – Rawalpindi
• February 27: Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Lahore
• February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia – Rawalpindi
• March 1: Pakistan vs India – Lahore
• March 2: South Africa vs England – Rawalpindi
• March 5 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Karachi
• March 6 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Rawalpindi
• March 9 Final: TBC vs TBC  – Lahore