LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its Indian counterpart have agreed on the “fusion” model as the solution to the longstanding deadlock between the two bodies over next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.
The model will see India play their matches of the tournament — set to be held in Pakistan from Feb. 19 to Mar. 9 — at neutral venues, while Pakistan would do the same when India hosts the 2025 Women’s World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The agreement over the “fusion” model finally puts an end to deliberations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB that lasted more than a month with organisers International Cricket Council (BCCI) and broadcasters involved.
Although Pakistan were awarded the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy in 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had communicated to the ICC last month about the country’s government’s refusal to send its team across the border for the eight-team tournament.
The unofficial correspondence had given rise to doubts over the fate of the Champions Trophy while also delaying the announcement of its schedule, which was initially set for Nov. 20.
The “fusion” model was proposed by the PCB as a tit-for-tat version of the hybrid model, which India preferred to be adopted before the PCB, backed by the government of Pakistan, demanded things to be done on equal terms.
