ICC Meeting adjourned after brief talks, hailed as a positive first step
The crucial meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board members over the vexing issue of the Champions Trophy concluded without a resolution. The meeting lasted for approximately 20 minutes before the Board members agreed to reconvene soon, potentially within the next 24-48 hours, or at even a later date.A settlement acceptable to all parties – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the ICC – could not be reached but sources familiar with the matter described the meeting, albeit a brief one, as a positive first step towards resolving an issue. As is being reported by Cricbuzz, Champions Trophy 2025 has sent world cricket into uncertainty.
There is a possibility of behind-the-scenes meetings – whether bilateral, tripartite, or otherwise – taking place, with parties hopeful of arriving at an agreement afterwards. During the meeting on Friday, which began at 2:30pm UAE time, the BCCI stated that the Indian government has advised against travelling to Pakistan, while the PCB reiterated its steadfast opposition to the much-discussed hybrid model and asked for a viable alternative.
With two of the three potential scenarios ruled out, the third option remains uncertain. However, it is understood that efforts are underway to hammer out a realistic thaw. The most plausible outcome at this stage appears to be moving the entire tournament to another country, such as the UAE or South Africa. For now, though, this remains only in the realm of conjecture.
All 15 members of the board – comprising 12 full members and three directors from the Associate nations – are believed to have attended the meeting. When the meeting was adjourned, no
date was announced for the next session. According to sources, the reconvening of the meeting may take longer than expected, potentially extending into the next week.
The Champions Trophy, already running late in meeting the contractual obligations of the stakeholders due to the ICC’s inability to release fixtures on time, is slated to take place from February 19 to March 9. There were proposals to announce just the dates of the matches with venues to be announced later. But it was not acceptable to some concerned parties.
- (Cricbuzz)