A major breakthrough has been achieved in breaking the impasse over the 2025 Champions Trophy. According to reports, the ICC and PCB have agreed in principle to adopt a hybrid model for hosting global events either in Pakistan or India until 2027. Under this system, both countries would continue to play their matches at neutral venues when the opposing team hosts the matches.
The hybrid model, if finalized, would be presented at the Champions Trophy which is to begin in February 2025 in Pakistan. However, these plans are subject to various conditions proposed by the PCB, which include compensation from potential losses if India matches are to be played outside the country in neutral venues like UAE or Sri Lanka. This is likely to be confirmed after the ICC Board meeting scheduled on December 7.
PCB would accept hybrid model for Champions Trophy on one condition
The agreement reflects the attempts to reduce tensions between BCCI and PCB, while the latter has proposed that this hybrid model applies to all ICC events, including the women’s ODI World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
Discussions picked up momentum during a meeting between ICC Chair Jay Shah and PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai last week. The PCB is said to have proposed hosting a tri-nation series to balance revenue losses due to hosting games outside the home nation.
If India reach the knockout stages, at least one semi-final or final would be shifted to the neutral venue under the hybrid model. Meanwhile, time delays in finalizing that model have already prevented the ICC from finalizing the Champions Trophy schedule, whereby Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are confirmed as the primary host cities in Pakistan.
This decision could mark a significant shift in how ICC events are structured, emphasizing flexibility and cooperation amid geopolitical challenges. As cricket fans eagerly await the outcome, the hybrid model for Champions Trophy 2025 could set a precedent for global cricket’s future.
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