NEW DELHI: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will happen under the Hybrid model, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Thursday as the announcement ended the suspense over the future of the tournament to be held early next year.
With India's refusal to visit Pakistan over security concerns, all the matches involving the Men in Blue will now be played at a neutral venue, the cricket's global governing body said.
With the breakthrough being finally achieved, out-of-favour Pakistan batter Ahmad Shahzad video suggesting a stadium at the border for India vs Pakistan matches is doing rounds on social media.
In a bizarre take, Shahzad sarcastically said that the stadium should be at the border with one gate opening in India and the other in Pakistan.
"I did a podcast where I suggested the idea of building a stadium by the border. One gate would be towards India, the other gate would be towards Pakistan. The players would come from the respective gates and play," Shahzad told YouTuber Nadir Ali.
“But even then there would be issues for the BCCI and their government. When their players come to the field by our side, they would need visas which they would not get," he added.
With the hybrid model now confirmed, Shahzad said Pakistan missed out a chance to host India and it has now closed doors for getting the neighbours to their country anytime soon.
"Pakistan had a golden chance to host India. All cricket boards had signed the agreement in 2021 that Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy. ICC cannot back off," Shahzad said.
"PCB has missed the chance I think. We should forget that the Indian team will ever come to Pakistan now. Just forget it. The only way you could have brought India here was by an ICC event," Shahzad said.
Alongside India and Pakistan, the Champions Trophy will feature Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
