Shahid Afridi Supports PCB’s Stand Against Hybrid Model for Champions Trophy

• Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi supports PCB’s stance against a hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
• The PCB has rejected the idea of a hybrid model, reaffirming its commitment to host the entire event in Pakistan.
• The ICC will hold a crucial board meeting on November 29 to discuss the future of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has expressed strong backing for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) firm stance against the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February-March 2025, but India’s participation remains uncertain.

On November 10, the International Cricket Council (ICC) informed the PCB that the Indian government is unwilling to allow its cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the event. In response, the PCB issued a formal letter to the ICC, reflecting the Pakistani government’s concerns about India’s potential withdrawal from the tournament.

The PCB, however, has rejected the idea of a hybrid model for the tournament, reaffirming its commitment to host the entire event in Pakistan. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated the board’s position on Thursday, emphasizing that the PCB would not accept a situation where India plays its matches on home soil while Pakistan is denied the same privilege.

Afridi, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, voiced his full support for the PCB’s stance. He criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for intertwining politics with sports, which he believes has put international cricket in a difficult position. Afridi pointed out that despite security concerns, Pakistan has toured India five times, including a bilateral series after the 26/11 attacks, and it’s now time for the ICC to uphold fairness.

The ICC will hold a crucial board meeting on November 29 to discuss the future of the Champions Trophy 2025, considering options like the hybrid model, relocating the event to a neutral venue, or possibly postponing the tournament.

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