With less than 100 days to go, the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy edition hangs in uncertainty as the Indian government reportedly denied clearance to the Men in Blue to tour the neighboring nation. Both nations have been locked in a decades-long political stan-doff which in recent times has also jeopardised their cricketing ties. 

While PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains adamant about hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan, India's persistent request to opt for a 'hybrid' model has put the ICC in a very difficult situation. On Friday, the ICC aims to resolve the deadlock between the two cricketing boards once and for all. The meeting will take place on November 29 with an aim to bring about a proposal that both India and Pakistan can jointly agree upon.

India's constant push for a hybrid model

Time and again, the BCCI has repeatedly quashed any possibility of sending the Rohit Sharma-led India team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy edition. 

The government of India has refused to provide any clearance to the Indian team citing security reasons. A similar approach was taken last year in the 50-over Asia Cup which despite the PCB's stubbornness, was played in a hybrid model. 

As was the case, the Indian government was reluctant to send its national team to Pakistan on the grounds of security concerns and as a result, the hybrid model was adopted in which all the Indian fixtures along with the knockout games were played in Sri Lanka. 

See also: Pakistan's Champions Trophy dream gets a massive hit

Moving the tournament outside Pakistan

PCB's firm stance against adopting a hybrid model can prove determinantal for Pakistan cricket. Not only will the board lose millions in revenue from the ICC, but the governing body may be forced to snatch the hosting rights from Pakistan and shift the tournament elsewhere to UAE or Sri Lanka. 

Moreover, against the backdrop of recent political unrest in Islamabad, the possibility of the tournament moving outside Pakistan looms large. The security is beefed up around the capital city as Imran Khan's supporters gather in lare groups to storm it. ICC will closely monitor the volatile situation from a distance and come to an immediate conclusion should the political tension escalate to a whole new level.

The last time the Indian team triumphed in this tournament was way back in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni and finished as the runners-up in 2017.