DUBAI: The ICC board meeting, which was scheduled for today, has once again been postponed.
Sources revealed that the delay was due to India’s failure to respond to Pakistan’s stance on the issue. The meeting will now take place on December 7th.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Dubai this morning with high hopes for the crucial meeting, during which the future of the tournament, scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February-March 2025, would be discussed.
Sources further revealed that the BCCI also rejected the PCB’s proposals, leaving the impasse unresolved.
After this, PCB sources communicated a clear response to the ICC: the meeting should be held only when a final decision is required and India’s position should be clarified first.
It is pertinent to mention here that the upcoming Champions Trophy is on hold following the BCCI’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan, while the PCB remains firm in its stance of opposing the hybrid model for the eight-team tournament.
However, in the latest turn of events, a new model called the “partnership formula” is being considered to end the impasse between the PCB and BCCI.
As per the new formula, Pakistan will also not play its matches in India during ICC events for the next three years. Dubai is most likely to be the neutral venue for both teams under the expected new deal.
India is scheduled to host three ICC events during this period, including the 2025 Women’s World Cup, co-hosting the 2026 T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka and the 2027 Champions Trophy.
Details were further disclosed that cricket’s apex body has advised the BCCI to accept the aforementioned model in a bid to avoid legal action from Pakistan and also to resolve the issue without a vote.
If the proposed formula is mutually agreed, there may be no need for a board meeting and cricket’s governing body will communicate the development to board members.
Faizan Lakhani is deputy editor (sports) at Geo News.
