The deadlock around the 2025 Champions Trophy seems to be finally coming to an end. With India refusing to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reportedly accepted the hybrid model.
India will play all their matches in Dubai and the remaining matches will be played in Pakistan. The knockout games are also expected to be played in Dubai.
However, the acceptance of the hybrid model comes on the back of some compensations. Pakistan will be playing all their matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka. That tournament was scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Moreover, Pakistan are also likely to get hosting rights for an ICC women’s tournament post-2027.
According to sources on IANS, members in and around the PCB are not happy with the compensation provided by the ICC in return for a hybrid model. Some officials are disappointed with PCB’s decision to accept the terms and conditions offered by the ICC.
In fact, Basit Ali did not hide his displeasure. He feels it’s just a workaround and Pakistan is being used as the broadcasters won’t suffer any losses.
“Now it is being said that in 2027 or 2028, a women’s World Cup will be given to Pakistan. Everybody will say, ‘waah ji waah! This is great, not one but two ICC events (in Pakistan)!’ But what’s the point of events like these? It’s being done so that in 2026, the Pakistan team will travel to India and the Indian women’s team will then come to Pakistan. The broadcasters won’t suffer any losses,” Basil Ali was quoted saying on his YouTube channel.
Hosting Women’s ICC event or U-19 World Cup won’t benefit Pakistan: Basit Ali

The 54-year-old even termed this exchange or compensation as a ‘lollipop’ to PCB. He believes that hosting a women’s ICC event or an Under-19 World Cup wouldn’t benefit Pakistan in any means.
“Do you know what a lollipop is? This is a lollipop the ICC is giving to the PCB…that if you agree to this, don’t ask for anything in writing and we will give you another ICC event. This won’t be of any benefit (to Pakistan). They should rather bid for the Asia Cup, which is next year. The PCB should ask for this. The PCB won’t benefit by hosting the Women’s World Cup or U-19 World Cup. If the PCB accepts this lollipop, they’ll be the losers,” Basit added.
The official confirmation on the 2025 Champions Trophy is expected to be out soon.