The Champions Trophy has hit a fresh roadblock with the Board of Control for Cricket in India unwilling to accept the Pakistan Cricket Board’s demand of not playing their matches in India.

The PCB had agreed to the hybrid model for India’s matches in the Champions Trophy and, as a counter, it had proposed that they wouldn’t play any match in India during the 2026 T20 World Cup, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka.

It was always a given that any hybrid proposal accepted for the Champions Trophy would have a similar impact on future ICC tournaments. India is also slated to host the Women’s ODI World Cup next year besides the next Champions Trophy in 2029 and the ODI World Cup in 2031.

Sources told The Telegraph on Tuesday that the BCCI has sent a clear message to the ICC brass in this regard leading to a fresh impasse. The BCCI’s contention is simple — there is no security threat in India and hence no question of accepting such an arrangement.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be hosted from February 19 to March 9.

It had been decided that India would play all their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final and the final if they make it. But the fresh twist will lead to further uncertainty.

The PCB has been demanding that a similar model be followed for all tournaments but the BCCI has not relented to such a demand.

The BCCI has always maintained that a security threat has led to their team not visiting Pakistan. The PCB has been pressing for a written document in this regard from the BCCI.

There was talk that an emergent ICC board meeting to discuss the hybrid model and sort out the fixtures would be held on Thursday, but that remains uncertain. The ICC board had briefly met on Friday last, but the meeting was adjourned after the PCB refused to accept the proposal.

However, the PCB staged a climbdown within 24 hours after the ICC threatened to relocate the tournament if they didn’t fall in line.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was in Dubai ahead of Friday’s meeting and was part of back-channel negotiations with the ICC. He had also spoken to Emirates Cricket Board’s Mubashir Usmani during his visit.

Any financial compensation to the PCB as a result of the hybrid model has also been ruled out for now.

It is understood that all relevant parties are working towards finding an amicable solution to end the crisis and the ICC board will reconvene in the next few days. With
former BCCI secretary Jay Shah taking charge as ICC chairman this week, expect more twists and turns over the issue.