Amid growing uncertainty over the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has firmly dismissed the idea of hosting the tournament in a hybrid format. Speaking on Saturday, Naqvi stressed that any new arrangement for the event must be based on equality, ensuring fair treatment for all participating nations.
“We will do what’s best for cricket. It’s definitely not a hybrid formula, but if a new formula is formed, it will be an equal one,” Naqvi stated in a media briefing. He emphasized that Pakistan would not accept one-sided decisions, adding, “Every time Pakistan complies with playing in India, but we are treated differently. This is not acceptable. Both nations must be treated equally under the same rules.”
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The controversy stems from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declaring that the Indian team would not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing security concerns. The Ministry of External Affairs echoed this stance, making it “unlikely” that India would cross the border for the tournament. This announcement comes despite Pakistan hosting the entire tournament as per the original ICC schedule.
Due to strained political relations, India has not toured Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008. The last bilateral series between the two nations was played in 2012-13 in India, limited to white-ball matches. Since then, the arch-rivals have only met in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups, with Pakistan traveling to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and the recent 2023 ODI World Cup.
Naqvi highlighted the need for parity, pointing out that Pakistan has consistently participated in tournaments hosted by India under similar circumstances. “This is not acceptable […] decisions should be made based on equality,” he asserted.
On Friday, the ICC convened a meeting with its members to discuss the future of the Champions Trophy. Naqvi later met Mubashir Usmani, chairman of the ICC associate member committee and former secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, in Dubai. The PCB shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the meeting involved “discussions on important issues regarding the organization of the Champions Trophy.”
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