The much-awaited meeting to resolve the vexing issue of Champions Trophy will be held this [05] evening with the widely-debated hybrid model all set to be accepted by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The majority of the board members – 15 in all – seem to be in favour of the two-nation formula for the 15-game championship. The meeting will be held at 3.30 PM UAE time (5 PM IST) with Jay Shah, the newly elected Chair of the ICC, presiding over the meeting.

It is reliably understood that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has been opposing the formula, is believed to have agreed for the hybrid model with the UAE most likely emerging as the second venue where five of the 15 games, including all three league matches involving India and two knockout games – one semifinal and final – will be held. It could be formally announced after the meeting.

The PCB is understood to have made four-five demands in return for accepting the model but it is unlikely they will be accepted by the ICC. The key PCB demand, of course, is for a similar formula for India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) when the BCCI hosts the ICC events but it remains to be seen whether that will be approved. As of now that remains the most contentious point. The PCB also seems to be asking for compensation for relocating the five games and it is unlikely there will be any opposition to this demand.

What is, however, certain is that the ICC and the Indian side will decline a key demand of the Pakistan side. It insisted that India should play a tri-series involving a third country at a neutral venue, most probably in the UAE, but there is no consensus on this. In fact, both the ICC and the BCCI are opposed to the idea and it is all set to be rejected. India have not played Pakistan in a match that is not part of either global or continental competition since 2012 and that will not change despite strong PCB demand.

Another demand of the PCB was to segregate India and Pakistan from the same group so that Pakistan could have played all their league games at home but this was not acceptable to the ICC. As is well known that an India-Pakistan game is the biggest cash cow in world cricket even the broadcasters are believed to be opposed to the idea, as previously reported by Cricbuzz. The blockbuster game is scheduled for March 1 and most likely it will be played at the Dubai International Stadium.