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PCB to face heavy losses if it withdraws as Champions Trophy 2025 hosts

The Pakistan Cricket Board could face revenue losses, lawsuits and also risk international alienation if it decides to withdraw from the ICC Champions Trophy over a deadlock on the mode of organising the 50-over event scheduled in February-March next year. A senior cricket administrator here, who is well-versed with the organisation of ICC events, told PTI on Wednesday that it would not be an easy decision for the PCB to pull out if the hybrid model is not accepted in entirety by the ICC and the BCCI. "Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but like all other participating nations in the event, it has also signed a mandatory Members' Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC," the administrator explained. "It is only after a member nation signs the MPA for playing in an ICC event that it is eligible to get a share of revenues earned from ICC events. "Most importantly when the ICC signed a broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC

When will Champions Trophy schedule be out? Star Sports starts campaign

The 20-second advertisement from Star Sports features all participating teams, including India, which almost confirms the participation of the two-time champions in the 2024 edition of the tournament

PCB likely to agree to host ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid format

India will play their games at a neutral venue, including the final of the tournament if they qualify

Win-win for everyone: PCB chief Naqvi all but confirms hybrid model for CT

Backing down from its boycott threat, the Pakistan Cricket Board has told the ICC that it is willing to accept the 'Hybrid' model for hosting next year's Champions Trophy provided the world body allows the same arrangement for events to be held in India till 2031. What was divulged by a PCB source in Karachi was all but confirmed by its chief Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai hours later. The tournament is scheduled to be held in February-March and India have refused to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns. "I don't want to comment too much because that can ruin things. We have given our point of view (to the ICC), the Indians have also given theirs. The effort is to ensure a win-win for all," Naqvi told reporters. "Cricket should win, that's most important but with respect for all. We are going to do what's best for cricket. Whichever formula we go for, it would be on equal terms," he added. "Pakistan's pride is most important. We have to ensure that cricket wins but Pakistan's pride a

PCB's Naqvi meets Emirates Board head Usmani amid hybrid model talks for CT

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Emirates Cricket Board head Mubashir Usmani in Dubai amid deliberations on a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy to be held in February-March next year. According to a PCB statement regarding the meeting, Naqvi told Usmani that Pakistan was ready to host the Champions Trophy and all the preparations were on schedule. Usmani is also the chairman of the ICC's associate members' committee. According to sources, Naqvi also said that the situation in Pakistan was stable and all teams taking part in the mega-event would be provided state level security. He said the construction work at the stadiums which will host the tournament was also on schedule and the people of Pakistan were looking forward to watching the best teams and players play in the country. On Friday, the International Cricket Council has told Pakistan to either accept the 'Hybrid' model of hosting for next year's Champions Trophy or be prepared to be ousted from th

ICC's ultimatum to PCB: Accept 'Hybrid Model' or Pakistan won't participate

The International Cricket Council has told Pakistan to either accept the 'Hybrid' model of hosting for next year's Champions Trophy or be prepared to be ousted from the event after the PCB's adamant stand led to an inconclusive meeting of its executive board here on Friday. The emergency meeting was meant to thrash out the schedule of the event in February-March next year but could not achieve a consensus after Pakistan once again rejected the 'Hybrid' model despite India's firm refusal to travel there owing to security concerns. It is understood that most of the ICC board members were sympathetic towards Pakistan's situation, but PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was, nonetheless, advised to accept the 'Hybrid' model as the only "plausible solution" for the current imbroglio. If a 'Hybrid' model is adopted, India's share of Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE. "Look, no broadcaster will give a penny to an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC

Champions Trophy: PCB opposes hybrid model, talks postponed to Saturday

The emergency meeting of the International Cricket Council's executive board could not achieve a consensus on the much-awaited Champions Trophy schedule and will reconvene on Saturday after Pakistan once again rejected the 'Hybrid' model of hosting the event. The meeting was brief after Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the 'hybrid' model won't be acceptable despite India's firm refusal to travel to his country owing to a lack of government clearance. "The Board did meet briefly today. All parties continue to work towards a positive resolution for the Champions Trophy 2025 and it is expected that the Board will reconvene on Saturday and continue to meet over the next few days," a senior administrator of an ICC full member nation, who is also a part of the Board, told PTI. Naqvi attended the meeting in person as he has been in Dubai since Thursday to push Pakistan's stance. BCCI secretary Jay Shah attended the meeting online. Shah will take charge of ICC on

Champions Trophy 2025 schedule HIGHLIGHTS: ICC board meeting adjourned till Saturday

A brief 15-minute meeting took place on Friday but was cut short after the members failed to reach a consensus

ICC to convince PCB for hybrid model Champions Trophy with extra incentives

PCB is refusing to entertain BCCI's demand for a hybrid model as they want the marquee matches to take place in Pakistan

PCB's 'POK' CT Trophy tour put on hold by ICC after BCCI's strong objection

The ICC on Friday put on hold the Champions Trophy tour of disputed Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) following BCCI's strong objection to the PCB's move. While sources in the PCB said late Friday evening that the Pakistan Board would remove one of the four disputed cities from the trophy tour, it is understood that the ICC will force Pakistan to strike off all of them. The tournament, last held in 2017, is already in a limbo after the BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan for the event. The PCB has also rejected the proposed 'Hybrid Model' under which India will play their matches in Dubai. The schedule for the tournament has also been put on hold and the latest controversy could only make things complex and worse. It has been learnt that BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Friday spoke to the ICC top brass and condemned the PCB for the PoK move. "The BCCI secretary called up the ICC and was extremely critical of PCB's move to conduct a Trophy tour of multiple cities which fall under .

PCB confirm BCCI's Refusal to Travel for Champions Trophy in 2025: Report

The confirmation sets the stage for a significant shift in plans, with the PCB and the ICC now bracing for the inevitable - a hybrid model for the tournament

AUS vs PAK: Gillespie likely to be appointed Pakistan's all-format coach

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may make Jason Gillespie as the all-format head coach of the national team if the results of the ongoing white-ball tour of Australia is "satisfactory", according to sources. Test team head coach Gillispie is also taking charge of the white-ball side in Australia after Gary Kirsten's sudden resignation. For the moment, the Board is working on a plan to appoint Jason Gillespie as all-format head coach instead of advertising for new candidates, a PCB source told PTI on Thursday. If Pakistan performs satisfactorily in the remaining games in Australia, then in all probability, Gillispie would be asked to take over as all formats head coach, the source added. Pakistan suffered a two-wicket loss against Australia in the opening ODI in Melbourne on November 4. They will play against Australia in two more ODIs on Friday (Adelaide) and Sunday (Perth), before facing the same opponents in three T20Is -- on November 14, 16 and 18. Immediately afterwards, the team

Gary Kirsten broke his contract with PCB and made some breaches: Naqvi

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said that South African Gary Kirsten ended his tenure as Pakistan white-ball head coach as he made "some breaches" of his contract with the Board. However, it was widely reported that Kirsten, who guided India to 2011 World Cup triumph, resigned following a rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board after the coaches were stripped of their powers in selection matters. Kirsten has so far not made any comments to give his side of the story. Naqvi said Kirsten had ended the contract with the Board and it was not the other way round. He (Kirsten) broke his contract with the PCB and made some breaches. He ended the contract with us, Naqvi told the media Tuesday night during an informal discussion. He refused to make any more comments on the matter. Though the PCB had not given the reason for Kirsten's sudden resignation, sources have confirmed that it was because he was not involved when the Board announced the squads for the Australia and Zimbabwe tou

PCB appoints local former first-class player as Pakistan's fielding coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted for a local former first class player, Mohammad Masroor, to work as the national team's fielding coach on the tour of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Masroor, who was renowned for his excellent fielding abilities, has been given a three-tour contract after he had worked with the national team during the last two Tests against England. "The red ball head coach, Jason Gillispie, was pretty impressed by the work and methods of Masroor and recommended he be appointed as fielding coach for coming white ball tours as well," a PCB source said. Masroor has vast experience working as head coach with the Pakistan Shaheen and under-19 teams in the past and has recently been on the coaching staff of domestic teams because of his coaching credentials. He was also assistant to Australian Steve Rixon some years back before the latter resigned after differences with the PCB. The Pakistan players have in recent times come under fire for their poor .

PCB contracts: Shaheen Afridi demoted; Fakhar and Iftikhar omitted

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday demoted premier pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to Category B from Category A, and did not offer central contracts to senior players Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and Osama Mir for the 2024-25 season. Test skipper Shan Masood remained in Category B despite Pakistan scoring a come-from-behind 2-1 series victory over England recently. The board awarded the central contracts to a total of 25 players just two short of the 27 who were given contracts last year. Like last year, the PCB made the contracts announcement after a delay of nearly three months as the players performances, fitness levels and behaviour were analysed. As part of the PCB's strategy to incentivise, encourage and reward talented and emerging cricketers, five players have been offered central contracts for the first time. They are: Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Usman Khan. They have been placed in Category D. The board has awarded A

Muhammad Rizwan replaces Babar Azam as Pakistan's white-ball skipper

Wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan was on Sunday named Pakistan's ODI and T20 captain, replacing Babar Azam, as the selectors announced the squads for the white-ball tours of Australia and Zimbabwe beginning November 4. Salman Ali Agha was made vice-captain for all future ODI and T20 international assignments. Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in their Australia tour, beginning with the first match in Melbourne (ODI) on November 4, and that will be Rizwan's first assignment as captain. Agha will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe -- for three ODIs and three T20Is -- is from November 24 to December 5. The first match -- an ODI -- will be played in Bulawayo. Babar, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah returned to the Pakistan team for the Australia tour after being sidelined for two Tests against England. However, they have been res

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman to escape with a reprimand for criticising PCB

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is likely to escape with a reprimand for criticising the PCB ahead of the squad announcement, where it planned to drop former skipper Babar Azam for two Tests against England. Azam, along with several senior players, got eventually dropped for two Test days after Fakhar expressed his displeasure on social media. Fakhar was issued a show-cause notice by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he tweeted his views where he compared Azam's run drought with India's Virat Kohli, who went through a lean patch between 2020 and late 2022. "It's concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn't bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively," Fakhar wrote on 'X'. "If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic butt

ACC Emerging T20 Cup: Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris set to lead Pakistan

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris will lead the Pakistan squad in the ACC Emerging T20 Cup, to be held in Oman from October 18. Pakistan, who are the defending champions, have named a young squad of mostly those players who have done well in the recent Champions Cup and in domestic cricket. The squad will undergo training at a camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi from October 11 to 15 before departing for Oman on October 16. Hard-hitting batsman Abdul Samad, who did well in the recent Champions Cup ODI competition, found a place in the squad, but surprisingly, another young batter, Irfan Khan Niazi, was not included. Instead the selectors have recalled discarded Pakistan white-ball batter Haider Ali to the squad that includes four players who have appeared in the senior team colours in some format. Eight teams will participate in the event with four sides divided into two groups. All matches will take place at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat. G

PCB chief confident of hosting Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday expressed confidence that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy would be held in the country and all teams, including arch-rivals India, would participate in the tournament. The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to start on February 19, and the final is on March 9. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been earmarked as the venues. India hasn't sent its team to Pakistan since July 2008 due to tense political relations between the two countries. "The Indian team should come. I don't see them cancel or postpone coming here and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan," Naqvi said. He also said that Pakistan was prepared to host all the teams including India and preparations were on schedule. "The stadiums will also be ready to host the matches on schedule and any remaining work would be completed after the tournament," he added. Naqvi said the stadiums would "definitely" b

PCB to downsize list of centrally contracted players from last year's 27

The PCB in all likelihood will prune the list of centrally contracted from 27 last year as per directive from two foreign coaches Gary Kirsten (white ball) and Jason Gillespie (red ball) with skipper Shan Masood being party to the decision. It is believed that PCB will announce the list for the 2024/25 season before the national squad leaves for its tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa on October 29. There is a lot of work going on finalising the list of players who will get these lucrative contracts but the announcement will be made before the team leaves so that they are not distracted during the test series against England, an official source in the board said on Saturday. You can expect demotions of players, promotions of a few and the addition and exclusion of some players in the new list, the source said. He said despite the demotions, promotions etc the number of players will be reduced in numbers. The recent fitness tests and performances of players have been take