Former cricketer Madan Lal of India believes that Pakistan ought to accept and play in the hybrid model of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After India maintained its stance of not sending the men’s team to play in Pakistan for the prestigious event next year on “security concerns” issues, its future dims in the Champions Trophy. On the contrary, Pakistan was adamant that it would host the whole tournament and have no place for the hybrid model. Stalemates rife for 4 weeks, recent reports indicate that there might have been a breakthrough with regard to the future of the Champions Trophy.
As per the recent reports, it has been reported that ICC and PCB have signed a statement in-principle pertaining to the hybrid model for global tournaments in Pakistan or India until the year 2027.
As no official announcement has been made yet, Madan Lal who feels that they should now accept the proposition from Pakistan will benefit from it.
“BCCI has cleared its stance. Now, Pakistan has to decide whether it should be played in a hybrid model or not. I feel that they should play because cricket should continue. Pakistan will benefit from it because there are a lot of things involved. Pakistan has to take the decision,” Madan Lal told ANI.
This would allow both nations to play their games at ICC tournaments hosted by the other country at a neutral venue. While sources claimed of ESPNcricinfo’s bylined agreement, the PCB has not publicly commented, only that discussions are ongoing.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, it is said that the agreement was reached as a result of talks held between newly appointed ICC Chair Jay Shah and PCB president Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai.
Those talks were part of a courtesy board meeting arranged by Shah during his visit to the ICC headquarters in his new role. A formal Board meeting to discuss the Champions Trophy was scheduled for Saturday, but the meeting was canceled.
