In an exciting and jubilant victory, Team India defeated New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday. Led by captain Rohit Sharma, the team celebrated their win with energetic dance moves. In a viral video, Rohit could be seen trying to convince ICC Chairman Jay Shah to join in, but to no avail. The celebrations also included players like Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir dancing with former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu and showering Rishabh Pant with champagne.
Despite being the official hosts of the Champions Trophy final, none of the members of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were present during the presentation ceremony. This has raised speculations about their dissatisfaction with the tournament being held in Dubai instead of Lahore. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment and questioned the absence of the board during such a significant event. Meanwhile, India clinched the title for the third time after defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final.
After much anticipation, BCCI finally names Devajit Saikia as the new Secretary, replacing Jay Shah. The former domestic cricketer's appointment is seen as a potential move towards developing Indian cricket at the grassroots level. With the current state of the Indian team in turmoil and controversies surrounding the team, all eyes are on Saikia to bring a much-needed change and address key issues such as the lack of quality fast bowlers and the underperformance of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the England series will be the ultimate test for the newly appointed Secretary.
Jay Shah, the recently elected chairman of the ICC, has arrived in Brisbane for a meeting related to the Olympics and to attend the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The timing of his visit is significant, as the ICC is currently grappling with the issue of the Champions Trophy, and Cricket Australia has been a strong supporter of the BCCI's position. Despite now holding an independent position, Shah's influence over the BCCI cannot be overlooked, especially with BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia also accompanying him on the trip. This visit may also have implications for Shah's previous invitation to the Sydney Test in 2025.
The ICC has found a solution for the conflict between India and Pakistan in terms of hosting cricket matches. The Pakistan Cricket Board has ultimately agreed to play their games at a neutral venue in exchange for a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in India in 2026. It has been reported that ICC Chairman Jay Shah will hold a virtual meeting with PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday to finalize the details of this agreement.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member associations have reportedly agreed to use a hybrid model of hosting for all ICC events till 2027, including the 2025 Champions Trophy. This decision was made during an informal meeting between ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan, at the ICC headquarters. While this may be seen as a win-win situation for all stakeholders, it may not be well received by Indian fans as it means India will not be able to play its marquee match against Pakistan at home and may also have to travel to other countries for their "home" match.
The International Cricket Council has come to an agreement to host the 2025 Champions Trophy in a hybrid format, with India playing their matches in Dubai. This decision was made during a meeting between ICC's new President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors at the headquarters in Dubai. The ICC source states that this is a positive outcome for all involved parties and that this arrangement may also be extended to other multi-lateral events until 2027.
The announcement of Pakistan's plan to conduct a trophy tour of the ICC Champions Trophy through PoK has caused a stir, with India registering a strong protest with the ICC. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has condemned the move and urged for appropriate action to be taken. The controversy has also sparked tensions on social media, with BJP leader Amit Malviya calling out Pakistan's "loss of face". There are concerns that the strained relations between India and Pakistan could affect the hosting of the tournament.
The BCCI has informed the ICC that the Indian team will not be participating in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, allegedly due to political directives. This decision has sparked outrage on social media, with memes poking fun at the Jay Shah-led ICC and criticism for being selective in patriotic stances. While the PCB chairman has ruled out a hybrid model for the series, fans have suggested expanding the Wagah border or creating a replica stadium for an India vs Pakistan match.
The England and Wales Cricket Board officials have stated that it would not be in the best interest of cricket to hold the ICC Champions Trophy without India's participation. They have also added that the ICC is prepared with a contingency plan if India is unable to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. With tensions between India and Pakistan making it difficult for India to play in Pakistan, the possibility of a hybrid model, similar to the 2023 Asia Cup, is being considered. However, the officials also stressed the importance of protecting broadcast rights and expressed hope that the ICC's new chair, Jay Shah, will play a significant role in finding a solution.