Pakistan may withdraw from hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy if it loses the right to hold the tournament. A report from Dawn suggests that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might be told by the Pakistan government to stop playing matches against India in any international tournaments organised by the ICC or ACC. This possible move is in response to India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for matches, a disagreement that hasn’t been resolved between the two countries.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for clear guidance from the ICC on India’s decision not to play in Pakistan. A report from the Press Trust of India (PTI) says that the PCB will ask the ICC for more information since no hybrid option has been offered for the tournament. In 2023, a hybrid model was used for the Asia Cup, where India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka, while the other games took place in Pakistan. However, a similar setup hasn’t yet been suggested for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

PCB seeks ICC’s response

Reliable sources in the PCB say that the ICC has informed them of the decision made by India’s cricket board (BCCI) that India will not send its team to Pakistan. However, the ICC hasn’t mentioned anything about using a hybrid model for the tournament. Now, PCB officials are working with their legal team to write an official email asking the ICC to clearly explain its position on this matter.

For now, the PCB has not made a final decision on what steps to take next. It is closely monitoring the situation and consulting with the Pakistani government for advice on how to handle the issue. "As of now, the entire situation is being assessed," a PCB source said. "No final steps have been decided, but we are in touch with government officials for possible next moves."

The PCB is also thinking about possible legal issues if Pakistan loses its right to host the Champions Trophy because India won’t participate. A source from the PCB said that any decision made by the Pakistan government about playing cricket with India will be shared with the ICC for official clarification. The source added that if the Pakistan government takes a strong position, there might be legal difficulties for the ICC in handling the cricket relationship between India and Pakistan.