Explained: All the latest updates and India-Pakistan drama on Champions Trophy 2025

The 2025 Champions Trophy hosting saga, primarily involving India and Pakistan, has taken a turn for the worse. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been forced to intervene and deliver a verdict that will put the matter to rest but not leave all parties satisfied.

One cannot say that the entire tussle was unexpected. It was potentially unearthed the minute Pakistan were announced as the tournament hosts. Due to India's reluctance to travel, it soon became clear that there was no chance for the tournament to be entirely held in Pakistan.

The ICC meeting (Friday, November 29) ended up being the platform for showdown talks, and one could expect things to speed up from a decision-making point of view, as time is running out.

#1 ICC's ultimatum to PCB

Although Pakistan's resistance was commendable, they have now been pushed into a corner. According to reports by media outlets, the ICC have given the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) a day to either accept the hybrid model or witness the tournament being entirely shifted to another country and lose all the hosting rights.

Ideally, Pakistan want to host all the matches, including that of India and the final. However, recent turmoil in the country, which even forced Sri Lanka 'A' to pull out of their tour, does not do much to help their case. Despite assurances of security, the BCCI and the Indian government remain unconvinced, and given that they have all the leverage in the world in this particular situation, the ball never left their court.

Reports further say the other participating nations, barring Pakistan, are in favor of the hybrid model.

Despite the ultimatum being a step forward in this tug-of-war scenario, it is not the end by any means. The meeting was postponed after no amicable common ground was achieved.

#2 Why Pakistan will budge and buckle yet again

Pakistan were the ones who buckled under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) when a similar situation had transpired in the lead-up to the 2023 Asia Cup. They had to share the hosting responsibilities with Sri Lanka and missed out on the opportunity to host the final too.

Pakistan did their best to avoid a repeat of that scenario this time and held out for as long as possible. But it seems like they will have to compromise yet again because India is that much important to world cricket.

"Look, no broadcaster will give a penny to an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC meeting on Saturday will only happen if Mr Mohsin Naqvi agrees with the 'Hybrid Model'," an ICC Board source was quoted by PTI.

"If not, then ICC Board might have to shift the tournament entirely to a different country (could be UAE too) but it will be held without Pakistan," the source added.

India have never wavered from their stance of not traveling across the border despite all the alternatives and arrangements offered by the PCB. Without India, the ICC are left handicapped because there will not be revenue from the broadcasters for the telecast of matches involving other teams.

Pakistan have also made empty threats to never play against India in ICC events in the future, given how much these matches matter to their neighbors and the broadcasters. However, that is not something that is being taken seriously, given how it could backfire just as easily on Pakistan too.

#3 Pakistan have a hidden silver lining

As things stand, Pakistan have been knocked out and left handicapped, with both the ICC and BCCI ganging up on them and other boards blindly rallying with them. However, Pakistan can still manage to get something out of this scenario if they just swallow their pride again.

The PCB shelled out a ton of money to get their stadiums renovated in time for the event, and they are primed to receive $6 million as a hosting fee by the ICC, along with gate revenue. They stand to lose those if they embrace their ego and do not accept the hybrid model.

Pakistan also have a bit of moral ground to seek extra compensation from the ICC for altering the schedule.

“With the PCB not willing to budge on hosting the event under a hybrid model, they are now being offered additional financial incentives to end the deadlock,” an insider said, as per PTI.

Losing all of the hosting fee and gate revenue after shelling out money on stadium renovation will be a costly mistake. In comparison, the hybrid model keeps them secure financially, with the additional compensation being the cherry on the cake.