Pakistan firmly stands by its stance of not accepting a hybrid model for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with insiders reporting that this stance has intensified challenges for the Cricket Council.

Pakistan has communicated its position to all relevant stakeholders, leading to significant concerns within the ICC over potential financial setbacks, sources confirm.

The recent deadlock caused delays in the official announcement of the schedule of the tournament which was originally planned to be revealed by ICC during a “100 Days to Go” event.

However, sources claimed that the Champions Trophy schedule must be announced by ICC at least 90 days before the event.

“If ICC fails to meet the November 20 deadline, it could face legal consequences, as commercial partners require sufficient time for pre-event marketing,” sources claimed.

The ICC might face a dilemma, as the participation of both Pakistan and India is pivotal to the tournament’s success.

Sources indicated that hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 without either team would be financially unfeasible, yet moving the event from Pakistan could lead to legal action by the PCB.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan rallying support from the cricket boards of teams participating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hoping to secure backing for its hosting rights despite India’s refusal to send its team.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already started discussions with various international cricket boards, preparing for a potential voting process among ICC member boards.

It is worth noting here that Pakistan’s track record of hosting international teams, including Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa, is exceptional with each expressing positive experiences regarding security and hospitality.

The only team absent from recent tours has been India, which last visited Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup.