PCB Urges ICC for Assurance and Compensation in Case of India’s Non-participation in Champions Trophy 2025

In a recent development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sign the hosting rights agreements for the Champions Trophy 2025, emphasizing the need for compensation should India decline to travel to Pakistan, citing political and security reasons.

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A reliable source within the PCB revealed that although Pakistan has been designated as the host for the prestigious tournament, the ICC has yet to formalize the hosting agreement. PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer reportedly met with the ICC executive board in Ahmedabad to discuss the hosting of the Champions Trophy scheduled for February-March 2025.

The source disclosed that PCB officials expressed concerns about the potential refusal of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its team to Pakistan. In the event of such a refusal, the PCB urged the ICC to refrain from making unilateral decisions regarding the tournament and instead appoint an independent security agency.

The PCB proposed that this agency would collaborate with the Pakistani government and security officials to assess the security situation for all participating teams, including India. The officials pointed out that several top teams had toured Pakistan in the last two years without encountering security concerns.

The PCB’s stance also included a clear demand for compensation from the ICC if India chooses not to play in Pakistan, leading to the relocation of matches to another country. The board argued that given the historical and political relations between Pakistan and India, there is a high probability of India withdrawing from playing in Pakistan on security and political grounds.

This move comes in the wake of India’s decision to decline participation in the Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan earlier this year. In that instance, India played all its matches in Sri Lanka, including the final against the host nation, while Pakistan hosted only four games under an agreement with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

During the ICC meeting, Ashraf and Naseer made it unequivocally clear that Pakistan would not relinquish its hosting rights. The BCCI representative maintained that any decision on India’s participation in Pakistan in 2025 would be contingent upon the Indian government’s stance, and they would adhere to the government’s decision.

As discussions unfold between the PCB and the ICC, the cricketing world awaits a resolution that ensures a fair and secure environment for all teams participating in the Champions Trophy 2025. The complexities of geopolitics and cricketing relations add an additional layer of intrigue to this ongoing saga, with fans and stakeholders eagerly anticipating a favourable outcome that preserves the integrity and competitiveness of the tournament.