EXPLAINER: What will happen if Pakistan does not agree to the hybrid model? important meeting today

New Delhi. The ongoing controversy regarding the ICC Champions Trophy is about to end. Pakistan was given the responsibility of hosting this mega tournament. Now it seems that not only will it lose the hosting rights but it may also be out of the tournament. The ICC had called a meeting on Friday 29 November to finalize the schedule of the Champions Trophy, which remained inconclusive. BCCI had refused to send its team to Pakistan due to security reasons and had demanded to conduct the tournament in hybrid model. All the teams including ICC are in favor of this but Pakistan Cricket Board is refusing to accept it. ICC meeting will be held again on 30th November and the final decision will be taken in it.

The Champions Trophy is to be held in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March. This tournament is making a comeback after 8 years, but questions are being raised on its organization. India refused to go to Pakistan and proposed to PCB to conduct ICC hybrid model tournament. All the countries playing the tournament including ICC are insisting to accept it. By adopting this model, India will play its matches at some other place while the rest of the tournament will be held in Pakistan. According to reports, Pakistan has refused to accept this solution.

What will happen if Pakistan does not agree?
According to a report in Cricbuzz, if the PCB refuses to adopt the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, then the tournament will be moved out of Pakistan entirely. Champions Trophy 2025 can be shifted to UAE or South Africa. If this happens, the tournament may have to be postponed for some time. ICC had already stressed that it would take a lot of time to shift the tournament to any other country.

What is hybrid model?
The ICC held a meeting with the boards of all the member countries and the three associate countries, which also included the PCB and BCCI. Its objective was to solve the problem of Champions Trophy. PCB rejected the proposal to play Champions Trophy 2025 in hybrid format. According to the hybrid model, all the matches of the Indian team will be held in which other country outside Pakistan. The hosting of the semi-finals and finals will also be snatched away from it.

Why is Pakistan adamant?
The whole world keeps an eye on the match between India and Pakistan. Viewers from all over the world will flock to Pakistan to watch this match, while the broadcaster will also benefit greatly from it. The hosting cricket board gets a share of the income from the match. Pakistan Cricket Board does not want to let this opportunity go, that is why it is pressurizing the Indian team to come to Pakistan and play.