Kamran Akmal said that the ICC should stop India and Pakistan’s group matches in the mega tournaments until the two countries play a bilateral series. Akmal commented amidst the ongoing deadlock between India and Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host next year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send its team to Pakistan after not getting permission from the Indian government. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not ready to accept the hybrid model until a stern warning from the ICC forced them to change their stance.

In his conversation with Telecom Asia Sport, Akmal opined on the same.

“It is the right time for the ICC to come up with a permanent solution. Suppose the Champions Trophy is played in a hybrid model, as India have refused to travel to Pakistan. In that case, Pakistan should be allowed to play their matches in a different country if India are the host nation.

“The second option is that ICC should stop group matches between the two teams until they play bilateral series. Once the bilateral matches start, then only they should compete against each other in multi-national events,” he said.

The last bilateral series was held in 2012-13 when Pakistan played white-ball matches in India. Meanwhile, India last played in Pakistan during the 2008 Asia Cup.