Amid India-Pakistan logjam, ICC to meet virtually on November 29 to discuss 2025 Champions Trophy schedule: Reports

Amid the deadlock over the 2025 Champions Trophy, the International Cricket Council is set to meet virtually on Friday, November 29 to discuss the much-delayed schedule for the multi-nation event. Significantly, the meeting will take place just a couple of days before BCCI secretary Jay Shah takes over as the ICC chairman (December 1).

The 2025 Champions Trophy was initially scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. However, things have gone for a complete toss following India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. They want the event to be held in hybrid model, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has been adamant on not hosting any matches outside the country.

As per a report in news agency PTI on Tuesday, November 26, the ICC will meet virtually on November 29 to discuss the Champions Trophy schedule.

"The ICC board will meet on November 29 to discuss the Champions Trophy schedule," an ICC spokesperson was quoted as telling PTI.

India last visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008 but have refused to travel to the neighboring country following the Mumbai terror attacks in the same year. As per reports, the BCCI wants India's matches to be held in another country, preferably in the UAE.

The PTI report further quoted sources as saying that 'PCB will be offered financial incentives, over and above the hosting fees of US$70 million, to agree to the hybrid model'. India had played their matches in Sri Lanka in a hybrid model during the 2023 Asia Cup, which was hosted by Pakistan.

The PCB has renovated stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi for the Champions Trophy, which will be Pakistan's first ICC event since 1996, when it co-hosted the ODI World Cup.

The PCB has threatened not to send its team to India for future ICC events and boycott cricket matches with India if the Men in Blue do not visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. While India did not go to Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan did play their 2023 ODI World Cup games in India.

---

Pakistan are the defending champions in the ICC Champions Trophy

The Champions Trophy was last held in England in 2017. India and Pakistan met in the final at The Kennington Oval, London, with Pakistan hammering the Men in Blue by a huge margin of 180 runs.

Batting first, Pakistan put up 338-4, as Fakhar Zaman hit 114 off 106. Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali then claimed three wickets each as India were bowled out for 158 in response.