The hottest topic in the cricketing world these days is the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Indian board has officially declined to send its team to Pakistan, which has caused great anger and frustration among the people of Pakistan. Initially, I planned not to write about this until an official announcement was made, but given the numerous reports circulating, I decided to share my perspective.
The first set of reports suggests that ICC has asked Pakistan to accept a hybrid model, which the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has refused. According to these reports, the Pakistan government has decided not to play any matches against India until relations normalize. Meanwhile, the renowned Indian sports page, "Sports Tak," has claimed that if Pakistan rejects the hybrid model, the entire tournament may be moved to South Africa.
Now, let's analyze these reports and share my take on the situation.
It's evident that the ICC, adhering to the principle of "might is right," will never decide in favor of Pakistan. If Pakistan refuses the hybrid model, ICC might indeed shift the tournament to South Africa as it lacks the courage to confront India. In such a scenario, what options remain for Pakistan? We must devise a solution that preserves our dignity without causing significant losses.
If the event is moved to South Africa, it will be a great humiliation for Pakistan, and ICC will never accept any proposal without India's agreement. Therefore, Pakistan should host the event under the hybrid model and forfeit its match against India, declaring outright that they will not play. This will result in the loss of two points for Pakistan, but it will deprive ICC of the massive revenue it generates from Pakistan-India matches.
While it is true that the BCCI might compensate ICC with money from its own pocket, this cannot go on indefinitely. With an ICC event scheduled every year, even the BCCI, with its wealth, cannot continually pay for Pakistan-India match revenue out of its pocket. Therefore, if Pakistan wants to challenge ICC and India's dominance, the best and only solution is to refrain from playing against India in any ICC event for the next five years.
I promise and assert that this approach will compel India’s team to come running to the table. This time, we must stand firm. Cricket may take a backseat, but preserving national dignity is paramount.