PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that Pakistan will not agree to a “hybrid model” for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy if India refuses to come to Pakistan for their scheduled matches. India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012. However, Pakistan visited India last year for the ICC World Cup, even though tensions between the two countries were high. This raised hopes that India would return the gesture by coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. But so far, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has not given a clear response and may be waiting for political leaders in India to decide.

India had already refused to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year, which forced Pakistan to compromise by accepting a “hybrid model.” This model allowed some matches to take place in Pakistan and others at neutral venues. While this seemed like a fair solution at the time, Naqvi has now rejected it for the Champions Trophy. The Champions Trophy is an important tournament, usually hosted by one nation, offering a special experience for both players and fans.

Pakistan also took the risk of visiting India last year despite concerns about security, and India hosted them well. Now, it’s only fair that India should visit Pakistan in return. In recent years, many other cricket teams from around the world, including England just last month, have toured Pakistan without any problems. Pakistani authorities have ensured top-level security and hospitality for these teams. If India chooses not to come to Pakistan, it will likely be due to political reasons, which would hurt international cricket. The ICC (International Cricket Council) should step in and ensure fairness, making sure cricket isn’t impacted by political decisions. After all, cricket should bring people together, not be controlled by politics.