Champions Trophy: ICC's key meeting deferred till Dec 7

An important meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC), set to take decisions regarding the hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025 today (Wednesday), was postponed again before its commencement in Dubai as India "rejected the formula" proposed by Pakistan.

Sources told Geo News that the meeting was postponed due to India's failure to respond to Pakistan's proposed solution to the matter. The meeting will now take place on December 7.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Dubai this morning with high hopes for the crucial meeting, during which the future of the tournament, scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February-March 2025, was set to be discussed.

The sources further said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also rejected the PCB's proposals, leaving the impasse unresolved.

After this, the PCB sources communicated a clear response to the ICC: the meeting should take place only when a final decision is necessary, and India's stance should be clarified first.

It is pertinent to mention here that the upcoming Champions Trophy is at a standstill following BCCI's refusal to send its team to Pakistan, while PCB remained firm on their stance of opposing the hybrid model for the eight-team tournament.

However, in the latest turn of events, a new model, dubbed as "partnership formula", is under consideration to end the deadlock between PCB and BCCI.

As per the new formula, Pakistan will also not play their matches in India during ICC events for next three years. Dubai is most likely to be the neutral venue for both the teams as per the expected new agreement.

India is scheduled to host three ICC events during this time period, including Women's World Cup 2025, co-hosting of T20 World Cup 2026 with Sri Lanka and Champions Trophy 2027.

Details further shared that the apex cricketing body has advised the BCCI to accept the aforementioned model, in a bid to avoid legal action by Pakistan and also to resolve the issue without voting.

If the proposed formula gets mutually agreed upon then there may not be a need for the board meeting and the apex cricketing body will communicate the development with the board members.