NEW DELHI: The final call over the venue for the ICC Champions Trophy was delayed and a general board meeting of ICC with host broadcasters scheduled for Thursday in Dubai was put off.
It was Jay Shah's first day in office as ICC chairman and representatives of other boards had travelled to Dubai on Thursday to demonstrate their solidarity with the world body.
However, formal discussions over Champions Trophy did take place and it has emerged that the hybrid model has been agreed upon in principle till 2027. India will host two ICC events in that period - the women's ODI World Cup next year and men's T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka as co-host in 2026. It will be later discussed if India will play Pakistan in Sri Lanka during the 2026 men's World Cup. PCB has asked for a hybrid-for-hybrid solution to subsequent ICC tournaments to be played in India till 2031.
The meeting on Thursday was called to discuss how a hybrid model could be executed after the Indian cricket board (BCCI) refused to travel to Pakistan due to safety concerns. BCCI wants India matches to be played in Dubai. An official meeting will be reconvened next week. Tournament host Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has floated a quid-pro quo solution while agreeing to host the tournament in a hybrid model.
"Shah was introduced as the new ICC chair at the general board meeting on Thursday. There were informal discussions over the Champions Trophy venue. The board members were there to support Shah's vision. A meeting will be reconvened in the coming days, most probably next week," an ICC source told TOI on Thursday.
It is learnt that PCB wasn't truly a party to the agenda of Thursday's meet. A formal meeting with a detailed agenda will be called to find a solution to the impasse.
"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the ICC board members, the ICC team and everyone who contributed to making my first day at the ICC Headquarters as Chair a truly memorable experience. This visit provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with my colleagues on the ICC Board, where we discussed the initial roadmap and strategies to shape the future of this incredible sport," Shah said in a statement on Thursday. "Today has been both productive and inspiring. While I am encouraged by what I have seen, I recognize that this is just the beginning."
In another development, it was learnt that BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia will be BCCI's representative in ICC.
