ICC Champions Trophy 20225: "We cannot send them to Pakistan" - Fresh Statement from BCCI arrives...
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla has made a massive statement on issues surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said their main focus is related to the safety of their players and they cannot send India to Pakistan.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is around the corner, and so far, there hasn't been any clarity about where the tournament will be played. This is because BCCI has opted against sending India to Pakistan and has demanded a hybrid model for the tournament.
But PCB, too, were firm on their stance as they said that they won't be holding the tournament in a hybrid model. This continued for months before the ICC had a meeting, and it was decided that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 would be played in a hybrid model, with ICC offering compensation to PCB.
PCB has been told to accept the hybrid model, and in compensation for that, they have been told not to visit India for the ICC T20 World 2026. Also, they would be given hosting rights of a Women's tournament after 2027 for accepting the two-nation formula.
We cannot send them to Pakistan - BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla
The official statement is yet to come, and amid all this, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has delivered his take on the same. He said that they prefer a hybrid model and added that ICC is in talks with PCB, and they hope for an amicable solution. Speaking to PTI, he explained:
“We [BCCI] prefer a hybrid model. But as the ICC chairman is already looking after it and is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board, we hope for an amicable solution with both nations [India and Pakistan] agreeing to it without any bitterness."
Rajiv Shukla was of the opinion that their main focus is on the safety of players, and hence, they won't be sending the team to Pakistan. He concluded by saying that they are looking for a middle ground to sort things out. He explained:
"The focus is majorly on our players’ safety, and hence we cannot send them to Pakistan. We are looking for a middle ground to sort things out.”
It remains to be seen what will be the final outcome related to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is expected to take place in February-March. If the hybrid model is accepted, India games will be played in UAE along with one semi-final and final.
Read Also: India under Gambhir: Here's how India have performed under head coach Gautam Gambhir so far
