The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to convene an urgent meeting within the next week to finalize the dates and venues for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to occur in February and March of next year.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the meeting is anticipated to take place on November 26, with the primary focus being on whether the prestigious event will be hosted exclusively in Pakistan or through a hybrid model, which would involve Pakistan co-hosting with another country yet to be determined.
This meeting was prompted after the ICC formally notified the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that India would not be participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, scheduled for early 2025. The PCB has since engaged in discussions with the Pakistan government and is preparing to articulate its position.
Despite this, the PCB remains hopeful that India will agree to travel to Pakistan, as their team did during the ICC Men's ODI World Cup in 2023. Last year, Pakistan successfully hosted the Asian Trophy, albeit in a hybrid format, with India's matches taking place in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan last faced off in a bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, a white-ball series, and now primarily compete in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. According to ESPNCricinfo, several contingency plans have been developed in anticipation of a hybrid model, with the UAE emerging as a likely candidate for India's matches due to its proximity to Pakistan, and Sri Lanka also being considered.
Tensions between the two nations have prevented India from traveling to Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. India has steadfastly refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, citing security concerns. Earlier this year, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla emphasized that India would only consider traveling to Pakistan if the Government of India gave its approval.
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