The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand for a hybrid model in the 2026 T20 World Cup. A report in The Telegraph said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has stated that there is no valid security issue as regards hosting matches in the country. Therefore, the need for Pakistan to shift their games outside the host nation has been rejected.
BCCI Rejects PCB’s Hybrid Model Proposal
This suggestion of PCB is a result of its earlier agreement to a hybrid model for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy that is going to be played in Pakistan. PCB further recommended the same hybrid model for the 2026 T20 World Cup that India along with Sri Lanka is going to host. But BCCI has refused this hybrid model as not required.
The BCCI has contested that India is a safe venue for international cricket and refused to entertain any perception of security risks. According to officials, no reasons could be cited for a format change – especially when past events in India have successfully gone off without a hitch.
This rejection has wider implications. India is going to host several ICC events in the coming years. This includes the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, the T20 World Cup in 2026, and the Champions Trophy in 2029.
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PCB’s Hopes Dashed by the BCCI
The PCB had considered the hybrid model as an example for future ICC tournaments. It was proposed especially considering that the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan were strained. The board had agreed to the model of the Champions Trophy under pressure from the ICC, which threatened to move the tournament if a compromise was not achieved.
However, the BCCI has made it clear that it doesn’t want to take the hybrid model into the 2026 T20 World Cup. Thus, in all likelihood, it has put a spade to those dreams.
The ICC is likely to do something about it as early as December 6 through an emergency board meeting as reported. The meeting comes after an earlier one was adjourned because of PCB’s refusal to accept the outright rejection of the hybrid format by the BCCI.
The ICC had initially hoped to broker a resolution through negotiations. However, the deadlock continues, leaving the Champions Trophy and other future events in uncertainty.
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