With just over a month to go before the Champions Trophy 2025 kicks off, the stadium renovation work in Pakistan seems far from over. With that in the picture, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been promoted to act swiftly and has made the decision to shift the venue for the upcoming ODI Tri-series prior to Lahore and Karachi. The ODI Tri-series will see three teams in action namely Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa, and is expected to be held just before the start of the Champions Trophy.  

Originally, Multan was planned to play host to the ODI Tri-series but given the advanced stage of preparations at Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) and National Bank Stadium (Karachi) ahead of the mega white-ball event, PCB has decided to host the tri-series in these two venues.

See also: Pakistan stadiums still under renovation as Champions Trophy kick-off date looms

PCB assures seamless upgradation of its stadiums before deadline 

In a recent update, PCB has assured the fans and the media that the stadium reconstruction work is progressing as per plan at the two venues and desires to complete the work on or well before the deadline expires. 

They further added that the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has seen significant enhancements. The seating capacity has been upgraded to 35,000 and as many as 480 LED lights along with two giant replay screens have been installed at the site to give the spectators a memorial viewing experience. 

“Additionally, 480 state-of-the-art LED lights have been installed to enhance broadcast LUX levels, ensuring superior viewing quality for fans worldwide. To further elevate the spectator experience, two giant digital replay screens – measuring 80 feet x 30 feet and 22 feet x 35 feet – will be installed next week. A brand-new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure has also been created, which will be operational by January 25."

Meanwhile, at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, sweeping renovation work is underway. The stadium will house a new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure at the University End along with 350 LED lights to cater to an unforgettable experience for the spectators.

“To improve broadcast coverage, 350 LED lights have been installed, ensuring optimal visibility for global audiences. Two digital replay screens have already been fixed, and 5,000 new chairs have been installed to enhance spectator comfort."

Can the entire Champions Trophy 2025 be shifted to the UAE?

India's repeated denial has forced the PCB and ICC to be inventive and adopt a "fusion" model approach. Under this agreement, India will play all its fixtures with Pakistan at a neutral venue and vice-versa, Pakistan will also play out all its future fixtures with India at a neutral venue till 2027. With that in mind, the current Champions Trophy edition has been hosted jointly by Pakistan and the UAE. Should the stadium crisis situation exacerbate any further for Pakistan, the ICC, in every likelihood may be compelled to bring the entire CT 2025 to UAE shores as a last resort. 

Pakistan looks all set to host the Champions Trophy 2025 starting on February 19. If all goes to plan, this will be the first ICC event to be hosted on Pakistan soil since the 1996 World Cup. Fans from around the world are captivated and are gearing up to see an intense showdown in this marquee event which will feature eight teams who will be battling it out to reach the top summit. 

But as per recent reports, not all seems to be going well for Pakistan ahead of the mega event. If reports are to be believed, the stadium renovation work is progressing at a snail's pace, and with the Champions Trophy fast approaching, fresh concerns have once again surfaced regarding the future of the mega white-ball event.

See also: ICC approves PCB's request for a hybrid model for all their future games till 2027

Stadium degradation work far from complete

As per the latest report published by Times of India (TOI), currently, three venues in Pakistan are undergoing renovation work. These include the National Stadium in Karachi, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. It is believed that the deadline to complete renovation work was set to December 31, 2024. The deadline has now surpassed and with just over a month to go before the tournament kicks off, PCB have a lot of catching up to do. 

An anonymous source from the ICC has claimed that the stadium degradation work is far from complete and the global cricketing body has raised concerns with the PCB about the same. Furthermore, ICC is expected to send a dedicated team to oversee the renovation progress and take stock of the situation too.

"It is a very disappointing picture. All three stadiums are far from ready and it's not renovation or refurbishment, but proper construction which is underway. There is so much work left with seats, floodlights, facilities, and even the outfield and playing surfaces." 

The renovation work started as early as August last year. But PCB has so far not been able to complete the construction work in time which raises severe concerns on whether Pakistan will be able to host the Champions Trophy. But at the same time, it is also learnt that the PCB expects the work to be complete and will hand over the venues to the ICC no later than February 12, 2025.

So what's causing all the hold up?

Apparently, the current weather conditions in Pakistan are not suited for any construction work at the moment. With the Champions Trophy around the corner, a roadblock like this was the last thing Pakistan would have wished for. 

As per an ICC source who wishes to be anonymous, the plasterwork in Gaddafi Stadium remained unfinished and has been largely hampered due to the cold weather conditions. The source also claims that most of the time is taken up by applying finishing touches to places like change rooms etc that need to adhere strictly to the ICC regulations.

"The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gadaffi, even the plaster work isn't completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can't be random rooms/enclosures for an ICC event. ICC has a checklist which needs to be met. National Stadium has decided to not completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time."

As per sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently got in touch with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to express their desire to host the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai, UAE. The venue was decided following a meeting between Sheikh Mubarak Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB.  The meeting took place during Al Nahyan's tour to Pakistan in Sanghar in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

See also: ICC Champions Trophy schedule under consideration, India set to clash with Pakistan on Feb 23

Dubai nears the final stages of confirmation as the neutral venue

With PCB and ECB successfully coming to an agreement on selecting a neutral venue, Dubai has almost been bookmarked to host the iconic India-Pakistan clash. Additionally, two other venues such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are also in consideration but due to the ground's enormous seating capacity, Dubai will take precedence. 

A statement from a PCB official read the following: 

"The PCB has chosen the UAE as the neutral venue and the PCB has formally informed the ICC about the decision. Now, India and Pakistan's Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE. The final decision was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan." 

As per ICC, the selection of a neutral venue for any global event rests solely on the discretion of the host board. PCB also explored other options like Sri Lanka but eventually decided to narrow down to UAE.

Looking beyond Champions Trophy

As per the agreement reached by BCCI and PCB earlier, both boards have decided to play each other in what's now called a "fusion model". On December 19, the ICC confirmed that both India and Pakistan will face each other in future ICC events in neutral venues for the next three years.

This will apply to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka). The clarity around venues for the forthcoming Indo-Pak clashes puts an end to a lingering dispute between India and Pakistan which has long existed due to ongoing political tensions.

As per widespread reports, it is believed that the PCB, headed by Mohsin Naqvi has given in to ICC & BCCI's demands to host the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid model. As per sources from PTI, it has been "agreed in principle" by the Jay Shah-led International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member associates to host the Champions Trophy with a hybrid model.

The marquee event will comprise eight teams and will be played in the month of February and March in 2025. While the majority of the matches would be played in Pakistan, India will have their matches scheduled in a natural venue which in all likelihood would be Dubai. As per a top ICC source, the decision has more or less been finalized during an informal meeting between the body's new President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan.

See also: Champions Trophy Venue debacle to be settled over this weekend

Hybrid model but with a twist

Whilst accepting the proposal to go ahead with a hybrid model, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi stressed having a reciprocal arrangement for its national side till 2031 and urged the BCCI to comply with their request. Although BCCI is yet to respond to this request, ICC has come forward and formally accepted PCB's plea to have a similar arrangement till 2027. 

"It's been agreed in principle by all parties that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan with India playing its matches in Dubai. It's a win-win situation for all stakeholders."

However, such a development can spell bad news for BCCI and its supporters. Between 2025 and 2027, India will play host to two World Cup editions. The Women's ODI World Cup will be held in 2026 whereas the Men's T20 World Cup will be held a year later in 2027. 

Should Pakistan abstain from visiting India as per the newly proposed hybrid model agreement, Indian fans could be devoid of high-octane Indo-Pak rivalry on their home turf. More importantly, both the BCCI and the ICC will have to cope with some significant financial blows if that were to happen. 

What does the future look like for the Indian team?

Being the host of an ICC event, India will have to go the extra mile by visiting a neutral venue to play its fixtures with Pakistan. Such a move may not only be unsustainable but also be unprecedented from BCCI's standpoint. 

Such an agreement will effectively mean that the Indian women's team will have to travel to a neutral venue to play their league match against Pakistan whereas Pakistan's men's team will be considering the possibility of playing all its matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Bilateral ties between the two countries have been at an all-time low since the 2008 terror attacks. India's last visit to Pakistan came in the 2008 Asia Cup edition with Sri Lanka being the eventual winners of it. 

The uncertainty regarding the fate of the Champions Trophy 2025 continues to linger on as ICC is yet to finalize the venue which both BCCI and PCB can mutually agree upon. Whilst the BCCI continues to persuade the ICC to adopt a hybrid model, the PCB on the other hand remains hell-bent on organizing the entire tournament in Pakistan, be it with or without India.

This deadlock has put ICC in a difficult situation. With less than 100 days to go for the marquee event, ICC called upon an urgent meeting on Friday, 29th of November with the BCCI and PCB to come to an urgent solution. That meeting lasted for about 15 minutes on a phone call and has been further deferred to the weekend in a bid to allow the boards more time to reach a mutually agreed solution.

See also: The future of Champions Trophy 2025 set to be determined at the ICC's board meeting this Friday

What's in the works to make the CT 2025 dream work?

It is now understood that along with BCCI and PCB leadership, a couple of other member boards will now sit down with the ICC think tank to work out a solution that can be acceptable to all parties. 

The two boards who are now at loggerheads with each other have been actively discussing this matter and the discussions will likely continue over this weekend. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has publicly made it clear that he is open to helping BCCI sort out problems with regard to their travel to Pakistan.

The ongoing Champions Trophy tussle has now evolved into a political issue between the two countries and in all likelihood, any proposal that is taken mutually by the boards will have to be government-approved before being submitted to the ICC.  

PCB has officially stuck to its age-old narrative of not hosting the eight-team tournament in the hybrid format. However, in recent times, there has been a slight alteration in that narrative but with certain conditions. Should a hybrid model be adopted due to India's unwillingness to travel to India, Pakistan may also reciprocate in a tit-for-tat manner and may demand the ICC to shift their fixtures with India to a neutral venue for future tournaments. 

On Thursday morning, Naqvi didn't rule out the possibility of having a hybrid model but stressed that he will need the clearance and the backing of his own government to make any subsequent decisions. 

The Indian government's stance on this matter

A spokesperson from the MEA in India publically stated while addressing the press that India will not tour Pakistan citing 'security concerns'. He makes his stance clear that the government is unwilling to send the Rohit Sharma-led team to the neighboring country due to the ongoing security crisis. 

"They have said there are security concerns there and therefore it is unlikely the team will be going there. Please do refer to the statement issued by the BCCI."

The BCCI has not issued a public statement on the matter of their travel to Pakistan, nor has security been a prime source of concern as highlighted by MEA. In fact, the BCCI has treated the decision to travel to Pakistan as one to be made by the Indian government rather than the board.

With less than 100 days to go, the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy edition hangs in uncertainty as the Indian government reportedly denied clearance to the Men in Blue to tour the neighboring nation. Both nations have been locked in a decades-long political stan-doff which in recent times has also jeopardised their cricketing ties. 

While PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains adamant about hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan, India's persistent request to opt for a 'hybrid' model has put the ICC in a very difficult situation. On Friday, the ICC aims to resolve the deadlock between the two cricketing boards once and for all. The meeting will take place on November 29 with an aim to bring about a proposal that both India and Pakistan can jointly agree upon.

India's constant push for a hybrid model

Time and again, the BCCI has repeatedly quashed any possibility of sending the Rohit Sharma-led India team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy edition. 

The government of India has refused to provide any clearance to the Indian team citing security reasons. A similar approach was taken last year in the 50-over Asia Cup which despite the PCB's stubbornness, was played in a hybrid model. 

As was the case, the Indian government was reluctant to send its national team to Pakistan on the grounds of security concerns and as a result, the hybrid model was adopted in which all the Indian fixtures along with the knockout games were played in Sri Lanka. 

See also: Pakistan's Champions Trophy dream gets a massive hit

Moving the tournament outside Pakistan

PCB's firm stance against adopting a hybrid model can prove determinantal for Pakistan cricket. Not only will the board lose millions in revenue from the ICC, but the governing body may be forced to snatch the hosting rights from Pakistan and shift the tournament elsewhere to UAE or Sri Lanka. 

Moreover, against the backdrop of recent political unrest in Islamabad, the possibility of the tournament moving outside Pakistan looms large. The security is beefed up around the capital city as Imran Khan's supporters gather in lare groups to storm it. ICC will closely monitor the volatile situation from a distance and come to an immediate conclusion should the political tension escalate to a whole new level.

The last time the Indian team triumphed in this tournament was way back in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni and finished as the runners-up in 2017.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for the response of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy. PCB chairman is still hopeful to host the entire tournament successfully. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which has been scheduled for February. It will be the first ICC tournament in Pakistan after the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will participate in this tournament.

Recently, the BCCI officially informed the ICC that they will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

We are still waiting for their response: PCB chairman

A week ago, the PCB wrote to the ICC to get clarity on BCCI’s negative decision to play in Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB has also written to the BCCI to clarify in writing its stance on informing the governing body of the date mentioned. The PCB is still waiting for the responses.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, "We have sent them [ICC] the questions we had. We are still waiting for their response. I believe that sports and politics are separate and no country should mix the two. Even now I still have positive expectations about the Champions Trophy."

Nobody has any issues: Mohsin Naqvi

Talking about the BCCI’s negative response, Naqvi clarified that all other teams were ready to play in Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB chairman also added that the BCCI could talk with them about the concerns.  

Naqvi added, "At this moment, every team that has qualified for the Champions Trophy is ready to come. Nobody has any issues. I will say today also, if India has any concerns, speak to us about them, we can ease those concerns. I don't think there is any reason for them not to visit."

Pakistan's pride is of primary importance: PCB chairman

The PCB chairman was asked about his views on any possible boycott of the tournament if its hosting rights were taken away. In response, Naqvi claimed, "Pakistan's pride is of primary importance." 

After visiting seven other participating countries, the ICC Champions Trophy tour will enter Pakistan in January. While the PCB announced an original route of the trophy tour in Pakistan, the BCCI had an objection to its travel in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Administered Kashmir. While the PCB has altered the destination, the board hasn’t cancelled it yet. 

On this matter, Naqvi said, "My feeling is that the ICC will have to think about its credibility, that are they an organisation for all the world's bodies. And that route has been rescheduled, we haven't been told about any cancellation."