ICC meets on Friday to tackle Champions Trophy deadlock

Pakistan played in India during the 50-over World Cup in 2023

The board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet on Friday to discuss the Champions Trophy schedule after India indicated it will not travel to host nation Pakistan.

Political tensions mean the two countries have not played each other outside of major tournaments since 2008 and India have not travelled to Pakistan for 16 years. Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

Although Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has previously rejected the idea of a 'hybrid' staging of the tournament, with India playing their matches in a different country, it now looks increasingly unlikely the tournament will take place solely in Pakistan.

The situation is complicated by protests in the Pakistan capital Islamabad involving supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, a former captain of the Pakistan team.

On Tuesday, the Sri Lanka A team's tour of Pakistan was cut short because of the protests.

Options for the ICC board could include a hybrid staging in more than one country, complete relocation or a postponement. A decision may not come right away, as the PCB takes time to consult the government.

The Champions Trophy is set to be the first global cricket event Pakistan has hosted since 1996.

Any alteration to the staging of the Champions Trophy as a result of the current dispute could have knock-on effects for future tournaments that India is scheduled to host - as Pakistan could demand they are held as hybrids too.

India is set to stage two 50-over World Cups - the women's tournament in 2025 and the men's in 2031 - as well as the 2029 men's Champions Trophy. It is also scheduled to co-host with Sri Lanka the 2026 men's T20 World Cup.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it had been informed by the ICC of India's decision not to travel.

That has left the tournament, scheduled to begin on 19 February, in limbo. The ICC is yet to officially publish fixtures for the eight-team event, although a schedule has been shared with broadcasters without venues allocated to matches.

The tournament comprises two groups of four – England, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh are also competing. The top two from each group advance to the semi-finals.

If a hybrid is employed, it raises the prospect of two separate venues, possibly more than 1,000 miles apart, being on stand-by for a semi and the final depending on India's progress.

The idea of India being thrown out of the tournament appears to be a non-starter, given the game's financial dependence on the country.

Speaking last month, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould said: "If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them."

And this week, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink told BBC Sport: "Our working assumption is it will still be played in Pakistan. If it happens to be split because India can't go to Pakistan, then we'll just adapt to that.

"There's a whole lot that goes into it. India do a lot for the world game and we're all really grateful for that. We'd all love to see India and Pakistan play more cricket against each other. Clearly that's a challenge.

"The rest of us play what is in front of us. World cricket is complicated. We do what we can to support the ICC."