File image of a cricket match between India and Pakistan© AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board informed the International Cricket Council on Thursday that it will not accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, asking the global governing body not to discuss the option at Friday's board meeting. The ICC has convened a virtual meeting of its executive members to resolve scheduling issues surrounding the major event following India's refusal to send the team across the border. “I can confirm that PCB told the ICC a few hours ago that a hybrid model is not acceptable to them,” a source told PTI.
The PCB was rigid in its opposition to the hybrid model and had advised the ICC to look at other options to host the Champions Trophy. The Pakistani administration insisted that having a hybrid model would mean India gets preferential treatment.
“I can confirm that the PCB has initially looked at the possibility of a hybrid model on the condition that if India cannot play in Pakistan, then in the future there would be hybrid models in all ICC events in India up to 2031 (ODI World Cup). in India and Bangladesh) because Pakistan would not play in India,” the source said.
Another source confirmed that the PCB has also reminded the ICC to inquire whether the BCCI had submitted a written letter from their government stating that permission had not been given to the Indian team to play in Pakistan.
“Under ICC rules, a team that says its government does not allow it to play in another country for whatever reason must submit their government's guidelines in writing, which we have not seen yet,” the source said.
He said the PCB had recognized the contribution of the BCCI and the Indian market to the ICC's revenue generation, but reminded the ICC that as per figures from the last few global events, Pakistan also played an important role in securing revenue through their matches against India. He said the ICC is yet to confirm the timing of the virtual meeting.
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