Egg on face for Pakistan as ICC members rally behind hybrid model suggested by BCCI for 2025 Champions Trophy

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There is a difference between bravado and being boorish. On Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan as a nation realized that there was whatsoever no support for them at the ICC virtual meeting held in Dubai over hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Tough posturing, and taking an anti-India stance, nothing worked as all the nations are now in support of a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. It means India will not travel to Pakistan and its matches will be held at a neutral venue like the United Arab Emirates.

In case the PCB goes and talks to its masters on the phone or in person in Islamabad, the message is clear: The cricketing world is even ready for a Champions Trophy without Pakistan. All through Friday, the social media handles from Pakistan had become delusional, some even suggesting a Champions Trophy could be held without India!

That was the typical Pakistan rhetoric, mindless and unaware they have no support in an ecosystem where India wields enormous clout in every sense. It is well known the financial muscle India generates in every facet, sponsorship and other deals included, the BCCI influences all cricketing nations, as they will stand to gain.

Now the option for Pakistan is to go for the hybrid model, something which they have resisted. If it is a case of eating humble pie, they will do it, as PCB coffers are empty. Worse, it is now certain even English cricketers will not travel to Pakistan for their own PSL, a league which has no value compared to the Indian Premier League.

The English board now wants their cricketers to focus on domestic cricket back home. To be sure, there was a flurry of activity from India as a nation relating to the Champions Trophy. After External Affairs (MEA) Minister S.Jaishankar, himself a career diplomat before had hinted that travel to Pakistan was next to impossible on Thursday night.

At the official weekly briefing from MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday, it became clear, India will not send cricketers to Pakistan. Jaiswal had also told the media that they needed to check what the BCCI had written in this regard. That was the most definite sign, India going to Pakistan for cricket is never going to happen again.

Once news spread to Pakistan, media personnel from there cross-checked with Mykhel on the developments, after which all hell broke loose on social media. Rabid tweets, targetting India and abusing Jay Shah, who takes over as ICC chairman next week had begun. First things first, the cricketing world requested Jay Shah to take over as ICC chairman.

There was not one candidate against him. Even as the PCB was frothing and former cricketers like Rashid Latif were peddling bilge on social media and 'leaking' stories to the media, they were unaware that those who attended the ICC meeting for a brief period had swung towards India.

The incidents of violence in Islamabad over former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan being jailed have also left Pakistan's political dispensation red-faced. Current PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi is a stooge of the ruling Pakistan government and has to toe the line which his masters say.

The violence witnessed in Islamabad is also a cause for concern as pictures don't lie. Whether the PCB agrees on Saturday (November 30) to the hybrid model or a day later, it is their headache. Even better for the cricketing world, a Champions Trophy in another country minus Pakistani is also acceptable. As of Friday night, Pakistan stands exposed that it has no support.

And the worst part, they tried to politicize it. It has boomeranged. Just to recall the incidents on Friday, while Pakistan was pushing all lies on social media, YouTube included, BCCI secretary Jay Shah was in Mumbai as the new jersey for the Women In Blue to tour Australia was being unveiled. That, too, caused massive heartburn for Pakistan!