Karachi. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains adamant about holding the Champions Trophy in its place but its arrangements have been exposed. The national women’s championship was halfway completed on Monday. Five players narrowly escaped the fire in the team hotel. The PCB had booked an entire hotel floor for the five teams and team officials, but the event had to be canceled midway due to the fire.

A source said all but five cricketers and officials were at the national stadium, either for a match or a net session, when the fire broke out. The source said: “Five players were in their rooms when the fire broke out. As a result, the property of players and officials was damaged.

“Following the fire incident at the team hotel, the PCB has decided to cancel the 2024-25 National Women’s ODI Tournament in Karachi,” the PCB said in a statement. The good thing is that no player was injured as the PCB immediately evacuated the five players present at the hotel at the time of the incident. He was safely transported to the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Center.

Pakistan rejects hybrid model

The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be organized in Pakistan next year. India has refused to go to Pakistan and play there. ICC has asked PCB to conduct the tournament in hybrid model. Pakistan has clearly refused to host the Champions Trophy in this model. ICC doesn’t want to hold the tournament without India and Pakistan doesn’t agree with that. If PCB disagrees with ICC, the tournament can be moved outside.