Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has voiced strong support for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as they take a firm stance against the hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy in February 2025. This comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed they would not be sending their team to Pakistan for the event.
Afridi Blames BCCI for Mixing Politics with Cricket
Taking to social media, Afridi criticized the BCCI for mixing politics with sports, which he believes has created an unstable situation for international cricket. He highlighted that since the 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11), which caused a halt in bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, Pakistan has toured India five times, including a series in 2012/13.
“By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. I fully support PCB’s stance against the hybrid model, especially since Pakistan, despite security concerns, has toured India five times,” Afridi tweeted.
Afridi called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to exercise its authority and ensure fairness in the scheduling and hosting of events. He emphasized that the ICC must assert control and make decisions based on the integrity of the sport rather than political influence.
PCB Firm on Rejecting Hybrid Model
The ICC is set to discuss the potential use of the hybrid model in a board meeting scheduled for Friday. The model, which was used during the 2023 Asia Cup, would see some of the Champions Trophy matches played in neutral venues, such as the UAE, while others would be staged in Pakistan.
However, the PCB has made it clear that they will not accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, rejecting the suggestion outright. “The PCB has informed the ICC that the hybrid model is not acceptable to them,” a source confirmed. While the PCB initially considered the hybrid model under certain conditions, they argued that if India cannot play in Pakistan, the same model should be applied to future ICC events in India, particularly the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Afridi’s call for the ICC to act decisively comes as the ICC plans to address the ongoing debate about where and how the tournament will be hosted, with political tensions complicating the decision-making process.
