News is emerging regarding the issue surrounding the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and that severe financial penalties may be accompanied by a PCB boycott based on India’s insistence to play at a neutral venue. As it has been specified by the ICC that Pakistan would host the Champions Trophy, the concerns for the participation of India have been widely in the media due to strained diplomatic ties.
The ICC has just confirmed this to the PCB in an official notice. The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has already said that Pakistan does not plan to opt for a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, reports state that Pakistan’s government is now weighing up the option of withdrawing itself totally from the tournament.
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After boycotting the championship, as sources tell Cricbuzz, it will be risking not receiving the full hosting fee amounting to $65 million. On top of that, even the funding from the ICC will be reduced. “The act of the BCCI refusing to travel means the PCB cannot do much else but organize the event using a hybrid model,” sources said. According to PTI, if this model is finalized, ICC would ensure PCB gets the “full hosting fees” and that the chance of hosting “the majority of the matches” remains in the hands of PCB.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has insisted the PCB version, however, while speaking at a press conference stated that there was no official communication from BCCI regarding any issue. * “We have a clear stance that they must give it to us in writing if they [the Indian cricket board] have any issues. Till today, we have not spoken about any hybrid model, but we’re ready to speak on this”* Naqvi remarked while adding that he is yet to receive any letter from the ICC or the BCCI.
Conversely, India has not traveled to Pakistan since the notorious 2008 Mumbai attacks and has only shared matches with this team in ICC events.