Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad believes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ‘gained more’ than the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s final hybrid model solution for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan were staunchly against giving into the demands made by the BCCI and the Indian government, but former Pakistan cricketer and captain Javed Miandad was satisfied by the outcome, stating that the PCB had done well to gain something from the negotiations in recent weeks. The long battle between the BCCI and the PCB, with the hosting rights of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the battleground, finally came to a close as the ICC confirmed how the tournament would proceed.
India are set to play their games at a neutral venue, meaning the Champions Trophy will take a hybrid model despite the protestations of the PCB. Nevertheless, the PCB did earn something of their own with a compromise, with their teams also slated to play their matches at neutral venues in tournaments hosted by India in the remainder of this ICC cycle leading up to the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup.
BCCI, PCB agree on hybrid model for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday approved the hybrid model for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, ending a month-long deadlock over the venue for the competition. This means that hosts and defending champions Pakistan will play India at a yet-to-be-decided neutral venue.
“India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC board confirmed,” said a statement released by the global body.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams — Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa — divided in two groups of four followed by semi-finals and a final.
India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the event due to security concerns. PCB had earlier declined to play the ICC Champions Trophy as per the hybrid model, but backed down after settling on neutral venues for both sides in ICC tournaments.
The hybrid model will also extend to next year’s women’s World Cup to be hosted in India and the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be organized jointly by India and Sri Lanka. In both competitions, the hybrid model will also apply to knockout games as well.
Pakistan will also host the 2028 women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next events cycle, and it remains to be seen whether the hybrid model will extend to that competition as well. The last edition of ICC Champions Trophy was held in 2017 which Pakistan won after beating India in the final.
The Champions Trophy controversy snowballed into a major crisis after the BCCI announced that the Indian team would not travel to Pakistan for the matches, tentatively scheduled from February 19 to March 9. This triggered a tripartite standoff involving the ICC, BCCI, and PCB. With Jay Shah assuming the role of ICC chairman during this period, it became the responsibility of the BCCI secretary to resolve the impasse. Javed Miandad commented on what he saw as a win for the PCB following the Champions Trophy negotiations.
Javed Miandad declares PCB as winner over BCCI in Champions Trophy 2025 fiasco
The never-ending drama regarding the venues of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy seems to have finally come to a halt. The ICC has put out a solution, with India set to play all their games of the 2025 Champions Trophy at a neutral venue and not in host nation Pakistan.
An arrangement has been made with both the boards of India and Pakistan that Pakistan will also play all of their games in ICC events, which are to be hosted by India until the present cycle till 2027, at neutral venues.
Therefore, the long-standing issue over the hosting of the upcoming ICC mega event finally came to an end. As per NDTV Sports, Pakistan legend Javed Miandad views this as a solution where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has gained more than the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).
“I think the PCB took the sensible approach and instead of doing something rash and facing isolation in the ICC and among other cricket nations, it opted for a solution where I think the PCB has gained more than the BCCI,” Miandad was quoted as saying.
Javed Miandad added that the neighbors have made a clear statement with this approach, that they will not play in India if India do not travel to their nation.
Pakistan earn neutral venue allowance for upcoming tournaments
Pakistan’s teams will now be playing at neutral venues during the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, set to be hosted solely by India in September-October next year. They will also play at a neutral venue during the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka that year as India look to defend their crown in that tournament.
Pakistan had travelled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, playing on Indian soil after back-and-forth regarding that matter as well. This included a memorable rivalry game against India in Ahmedabad.
Javed Miandad also lauded the PCB for sticking to its guns and not giving into the more powerful cricket board, upholding its values as it prepares to host a marquee ICC tournament for the first time in nearly 30 years.
“Still Pakistan is hosting a big event after a very long time and we have sent a clear message that if you don’t come and play in our country, we will also not play in India,” concluded Miandad.
Pakistan will look to defend their 2017 crown upon the return of the Champions Trophy after a hiatus, as the eight highest-ranked men’s ODI teams face off in the tournament beginning in February 2025.