A possible breakthrough has emerged in the impasse over the 2025 Champions Trophy: the ICC and PCB are believed to have reached an in-principle agreement to adopt a hybrid model for global tournaments to be held in Pakistan or India until 2027. Such an arrangement would allow both to play their games in ICC tournaments being organized by the other at a neutral venue.
Although the agreement has been confirmed to ESPNcricinfo by various sources, the PCB – the official hosts of the 2025 Champions Trophy – has not commented on it, only revealing that discussions are ongoing.
It is not yet known whether the hybrid model will be applicable to both men’s and women’s tournaments. In the ICC’s current commercial cycle (2024-27), there are three global events to be held in any country: the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February, the Women’s ODI World Cup in India in 2025 and the Men’s T20 World Cup. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
ESPNcricinfo understands the developments that emerged following the meeting between new ICC president Jay Shah and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday. They met in Dubai on the sidelines of a courtesy board meeting hosted by Shah, who was visiting the ICC headquarters in the city for the first time in his new role. The board meeting has been scheduled for December 7 to discuss the Champions Trophy.
It is believed that the PCB’s acceptance of the hybrid model for the eight-team Champions Trophy is subject to certain conditions. One of them is that a hybrid model should be implemented for all ICC events, including women’s, held in India and Pakistan until at least 2027, rather than 2031 for the entire current organizing cycle.
Other terms are said to be focused on compensation for the potential loss of commercial revenue from India’s Champions Trophy games being played in a different overseas venue. If India are to make it to the knockout stage, at least one of the semi-finals and possibly the final are likely to be played outside Pakistan. United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka are at the forefront for this.
The PCB is understood to have suggested arranging a tri-series involving India, Pakistan and some other country to compensate any board for financial losses due to India and Pakistan’s matches being played elsewhere.
There is likely to be a back-and-forth between the two boards and the ICC on this matter and the final decision is likely to be taken in the board meeting on December 7.
The PCB had planned to start the Champions Trophy from February 19, with Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi as the host cities. But, due to the impasse between the PCB and the BCCI – the PCB told the ICC last month that it cannot travel to Pakistan for the tournament as it does not have Indian government approval – the ICC has not been able to release a schedule for it. . Celebration.
Shah promises ‘new era’ for world sport
Shah, who was the BCCI secretary from December 2019 to December 1 this year, has officially taken charge at the ICC and becomes its youngest president at the age of 36. In his first media statement in the ICC role, Shah said the global body was starting a task. “New Era” and their aim was to collectively take the sport to “unprecedented heights” with the member nations. While the entire ICC board was not present in person on Thursday, Shah said he discussed an “initial roadmap and strategies to shape the future” of the game with several directors.
With Shah joining the ICC, curiosity has increased as to who will replace him as BCCI secretary. Shah has also been the BCCI representative on the ICC Board since 2022, where he held influential positions including heading the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee. Although the BCCI has not made any statement on who will be the next secretary, the board’s joint secretary Devjit Saikia was present at the ICC meeting in Dubai this week. Saikia could potentially be BCCI’s representative on the ICC board.
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