Broadcaster won’t agree to Champions Trophy being held in ‘Hybrid Model’, claims ex-Pakistani cricketer

It’s not just the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that is opposed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) proposal of India playing its matches in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy outside Pakistan. According to a former Pakistani cricketer, the tournament’s official broadcaster has turned down the idea of the ‘Hybrid Model’, which had been implemented in last year’s Asia Cup, as well as having India and Pakistan in different Pools.

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Former Pakistan middle-order batter Basit Ali, who played 19 Tests and 50 ODIs between 1993 and 1996, also hailed the PCB for “playing their cards correctly” amidst their latest standoff against the powerful BCCI.

“What did I tell you about the Champions Trophy… Broadcaster isn’t agreeing to (hybrid model or India and Pakistan in different pools and it won’t. If there is no India-Pakistan match in a tournament, then it would be like a tasteless dish,” Ali said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

“PCB has played its cards very well, well done! If you want to go ahead with the Hybrid Model, do it. But India and Pakistan won’t be in the same pool, and Pakistan will play all their matches at home.

“Mohsin Naqvi is quietly sitting now. He has played his cards correctly,” added the 53-year-old.

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The BCCI had refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament that is scheduled to take place from 19 February to 9 March across Lahore, Karachi and Rawapindi and returns after an eight-year absence.

The PCB, however, has remained steadfast in its stance that all the matches will take place in Pakistan after having agreed to the BCCI’s demand for the 50-over Asia Cup last year.

The BCCI had refused to send the Men in Blue to Pakistan for the continental event last year, as a result of which several games had to be relocated to Sri Lanka.

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The Pakistan cricket team led by Babar Azam, however, would travel to India for the ICC World Cup right after the Asia Cup, squaring off against the Rohit Sharma-led home team in Ahmedabad.

The ICC currently finds itself in a dilemma thanks the dispute between PCB and BCCI over the ‘mini World Cup’ and is yet to make a formal announcement on the schedule and venue.