A meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) board has been rescheduled for Saturday after most members expressed support for the hybrid model during an informal discussion at the ICC headquarters in Dubai.
On Thursday, discussions suggested that the ICC, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had reached a mutual agreement that would allow Pakistan to avoid playing their matches in India until 2027.
India is set to host the Women’s ODI World Cup next year and the T20 World Cup in 2026. The BCCI has previously opposed a similar hybrid model for the PCB, citing that there were no security concerns in India. Once the ICC board approves the arrangements for India’s Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, the operational details will be finalized with broadcasters at the upcoming meeting.
During a meet-and-greet event on his first day in office, ICC chairman Jay Shah garnered strong support from the board for the hybrid model. A majority of the 15-member board voted in favor of it regarding the Champions Trophy. Joint secretary Devajit Saikia represented the BCCI at Thursday’s meeting.
It seems that the PCB’s request for a three-match T20I series against India at a neutral site was rejected by the board, but any potential compensation will be addressed in the Saturday meeting.
