Champions Trophy could be shifted to South Africa: reports

Indian media reports are claiming that the Champions Trophy will be shifted to South Africa if Pakistan rejects the hybrid model.

The decision will be made at the board meeting where a poll will be necessary for transferring Champions Trophy from Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is awaiting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) response to an email sent on Friday, and ICC's next course of action will depend on the PCB's reaction, the report said. 

On the issue of hosting the Champions Trophy, PCB has written a letter to the ICC asking for the reasons for India's refusal to come to Pakistan.

Earlier, there were reports that PCB is taking a tough stance on the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision not to send its team to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan: considering a 'minus-India' formula in response.

The PCB has decided to use the examples from the 1996 and 2003 World Cup in its initial stance to adopt a tough stance against India.

In 1996, Australia and West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka, while in 2003, New Zealand refused to play in Kenya and England refused to play in Zimbabwe. In response, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded points to the teams that were present on the ground for the scheduled matches, putting the teams that refused to participate at a disadvantage.

Geo reports that based on these examples, the PCB will assert that the ICC has never changed a venue in the past when teams failed to show up, and as a result, Pakistan will adopt a firm stance.

Pakistan may also propose a ‘minus India’ Champions Trophy on this basis, as India has not yet spoken about the Champions Trophy in writing. PCB will insist to the ICC that India submits all its positions in writing, sources have claimed.

Earlier, it was also reported that Pakistan would write a letter to the ICC in light of the government guidelines in the next day or two, for which the Board had also completed a legal consultation.

Earlier, the PCB denied all claims about the Indian team refusing to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.

PCB source told The Current, "All speculations about Indian cricket board's letter to PCB or India not coming to Pakistan are baseless. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi's press conference in Gaddafi Stadium on November 8 is the latest update on this issue."

Mohsin Naqvi said that there should be no politics in the game and assured that the Board will continue preparations despite India not coming.

On the other hand, reports claimed that the government of Pakistan is likely to make tough decisions regarding India's refusal to come to the Champions Trophy.

The government is considering that if India does not participate at the agreed venues, Pakistan will not play any future matches with India, and until relations with India improve, they will not play any game with India in any tournament.

They are of the view that Pakistan always makes goodwill gestures, but India is always involved in politics.

 
If India does not participate in matches in Pakistan and the host country doesn't agree on the hybrid model, then there is a strong chance that Sri Lanka will replace India.