The ICC is thinking about taking away India’s hosting rights for the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup.
This comes after rising political tensions between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which are now affecting cricket schedules and tournament planning.
India had earlier refused to tour Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. That decision is expected to lead Pakistan to skip playing in India in 2029.
This has created a scheduling problem for the ICC, especially for big events where all top teams must participate.
During the 2026 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh reportedly refused to play matches in India. Scotland stepped in as a replacement, adding to the strain in regional relations.
The ICC feels the earlier “Hybrid Model”, where matches were split across countries, is too costly and complicated.
Broadcasters and organisers struggled with travel, logistics and security arrangements under that system.
Now, Australia is emerging as the preferred neutral option.
Why Australia Is the Front-Runner
Australia successfully hosted the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup without any major issues.
The country is seen as politically stable and logistically reliable for global tournaments. Time zones in Australia also work well for Asian TV audiences, which is a key factor for broadcasters.
For the BCCI, losing these events would be a massive financial blow. Hosting ICC tournaments brings huge revenue through tourism, ticket sales and sponsorship deals.
It would also hurt India’s image as the “home of cricket”, a tag the country proudly carries. The ICC is keen to maintain a stable global calendar and avoid repeated last-minute changes.
This could mean India may not automatically get hosting rights for major events in the coming years. However, the BCCI is expected to strongly oppose any such move during ICC board meetings.
The coming months will be crucial as the ICC weighs political realities against financial and cricketing interests.