With an International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy scheduled every year, the world title that will be competed next year is the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan have been given the hosting rights of the tournament by the global cricket governing body. While the Indian government's stance on whether or not the Indian cricket team should be travelling to Pakistan for the same is still not clear, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly rejected the idea of a hybrid model for India matches.
The same has been confirmed in a report carried by news agency IANS. As per the PCB's proposed schedule for now, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will commence on February 19 and culminate with the final on March 9 with all the matches set to be played across the three venues in the country- Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. India's centre was earlier said to be Lahore.
India's Security Can Be Well-Maintained In One City: PCB Source
Meanwhile, the same report stated that the ICC officials had recently visited Pakistan to assess the preparations for the event next year and were satisfied with what they saw. The idea of a hybrid model was tried during the Asia Cup the last time because of India's unwillingness to travel to Pakistan but this time around the PCB remains adamant that all matches should be played on their soil.
"We have not opted for the hybrid model. However, we have given this leverage that India’s matches can be played in Lahore only. This way, the team will not be required to move around cities within Pakistan and its security can be well maintained in Lahore," said a source in the PCB as quoted in the IANS report.
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"India can be based in Lahore for the entire tournament. This would minimise logistical and security complications associated with their travel between cities”, the source added.