Is Champions Trophy schedule to be delayed?
An ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule delay is set to prolong the ambiguity surrounding the mega-event. The sources said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would not endorse a hybrid tournament model, hence the schedule is unlikely to be released in the next 24 hours. Pakistan will host the highly anticipated tournament in February-March next […] The post Is Champions Trophy schedule to be delayed? appeared first on Ten Sports TV.
An ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule delay is set to prolong the ambiguity surrounding the mega-event. The sources said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would not endorse a hybrid tournament model, hence the schedule is unlikely to be released in the next 24 hours.
Pakistan will host the highly anticipated tournament in February-March next year, but the PCB is at differences with the BCCI over the latter’s apparent refusal to visit Pakistan. After the PCB requested a copy of India’s written response to its refusal to attend the mega-event, the ICC officially demanded a written explanation from the BCCI.
The Indian board had verbally informed the international cricketing body of its decision to withdraw. Besides the PCB’s attitude, broadcasters and commercial partners’ inability to accept a schedule without a Pakistan-India match, which draws large crowds and generates income, has hurt the ICC.
They also threatened legal action if the tournament did not feature a match between the archrivals. If stakeholders are flexible, the schedule can be announced in a few days, insiders indicate.
They said stakeholders like a consensus-based event. The world cricketing organization is trying to find a solution before BCCI Secretary Jay Shah becomes ICC Chairman on December 1. In recent years, the ICC has ensured that India plays Pakistan at least once in each global cricketing tournament, assuring a large cash stream from this game.
With 173 million Indian TV viewers and 225 million digital viewers, the 2023 World Cup encounter between archrivals was unparalleled. Prime events featuring Pakistan and India are crucial to the ICC, which won $3.2 billion in TV rights for 2024-2027 and expects $1 billion more in other earnings.
Indian international matches in Pakistan have not occurred since 2008. The BCCI did not send a side to Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year, hence subsequent stages were played in Sri Lanka. Pakistan visited India shortly after for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
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