Champions Trophy 2025: ICC in tight spot after PCB questions India’s refusal to play in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised the stakes by forwarding extensive questions to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about India’s refusal to cross the border for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

The Board demands that the ICC share any official written communication received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) concerning the decision.

“As the official host of Champions Trophy, Pakistan has the right to full transparency on this matter,” the PCB’s letter to the ICC emphasized.

“If any written communique from the Indian board is in ICC’s possession, it should have been shared with us.”

In response to the ICC’s recent request for clarification on the BCCI’s stance, the PCB spokesperson Sami-ul-Hasan confirmed their formal reply to the ICC’s inquiry, highlighting Pakistan’s concerns about the informal, verbal nature of the ICC’s communications.

“The PCB has responded to the last week’s ICC letter seeking clarification for the BCCI’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” he said.

A PCB’s source said the Board was taken aback by the lack of formal documentation.

“As hosts and the defending champions, we have a vested interest in the transparency and accountability of this process. All communications should be in writing to avoid any ambiguity,” the source added.

The PCB also questioned why the BCCI had raised no objections when Pakistan was awarded the hosting rights for the tournament back in 2021.

“The BCCI had never opposed the decision,” the PCB questions forwarded to the ICC stated, “and now, with preparations nearly complete, any reversal undermines the integrity of the process.”

To underscore its commitment, the PCB, it is believed, reminded the ICC of the significant investments already made in stadiums’ upgradation and renovations.

“The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgradation and renovation work that is near to completion.”

Meanwhile, rumors surfaced that South Africa might take over hosting but an official of the Cricket South Africa promptly denied any knowledge of such discussions.

“We never have expressed or desired to host this event which is already allocated to Pakistan,” the official said.

Faizan Lakhani from Karachi adds: Sources suggest that after obtaining answers to these questions, the PCB plans to seek legal advice and consult with the government before deciding on its next steps.

However, they also indicated that if India refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan and the ICC accepted the refusal, the PCB will categorically refuse to play any matches against India during the Champions Trophy under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, contrary to reports in the Indian media suggesting that the ICC could move the Champions Trophy out of Pakistan to South Africa, sources said there had been no such development.

“The ICC has not approached Cricket South Africa to host the Champions Trophy,” a source in South Africa confirmed.

Another source pointed out the challenges the ICC would face in relocating the Champions Trophy with less than 100 days left for the event.

“How can they just move it? They need board approvals for a start, and they also need a valid reason to shift it. With all other boards visiting Pakistan for bilateral events, how would they justify voting against an ICC event in Pakistan?” the source questioned.

“And there’s no way they can take it away without facing a challenge from the PCB,” the source added, noting that the PCB’s current stance had already caused a headache for the ICC, which did not anticipate such a strong reaction.

Another source told this correspondent that three options were under consideration, one of which was a hybrid model that Pakistan had publicly rejected. And, without the host’s agreement, the ICC cannot proceed with a hybrid model.

The second option, relocating the event out of Pakistan, also seems highly challenging for the ICC. The only remaining option is to find a middle ground.

“The ball is now in the ICC’s court. They must ensure revenue while handling this situation carefully. India is not traveling to Pakistan, and as a result, Pakistan has taken a firm stand that it will not play against India. This puts the ICC in a tough spot,” the source said.

“And when it comes to revenue, the ICC knows it cannot afford to exclude Pakistan. It understands the value of Pakistan cricket and its contribution to the global cricket revenue, which is why it is eager to ensure that both India and Pakistan play each other at least once during the ICC Champions Trophy,” the source explained.

Making matters more complicated, there is no precedent for a tournament being shifted outside the host country to accommodate one team.

“In the 2009 T20 World Cup, the UK government did not issue visas to Zimbabwe. Instead of relocating the whole tournament, the ICC opted for a middle ground that led to Zimbabwe’s withdrawal and replacement by Scotland. This shows that relocating the Champions Trophy without reasonable grounds or simply to accommodate one country will not be an easy task,” the source concluded.