New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally passed the hybrid model for the highly-debated Champions Trophy 2025, with the agreement of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The two parties have been at loggerheads for the last few months as Pakistan were the named host for the event and the BCCI didn’t allow the Indian cricket team to visit the country for the ICC event.
It can be termed as a “breakthrough” to the Champions Trophy impasse and it is noteworthy that not just India, but Team Pakistan will also play their matches (ICC events) at a neutral venue during the cycle of 2024-27. In short, all India-Pakistan games during 2024-27 will be played in a neutral nation, as per the ICC.
“This will apply to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka),” the ICC made a statement on Thursday. This makes it clear that the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka rather than India.
JUST IN: ICC issues update on Champions Trophy 2025 venue.
Details 👇https://t.co/aWEFiF5qeS
— ICC (@ICC) December 19, 2024
How will the hybrid model exactly work?
Although it remains uncertain which nation will be selected as the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy, chances are high for UAE and Sri Lanka. While the PCB, designated hosts of the eight-team marquee event, appears to favour Sri Lanka, logistical eases may shift the decision towards the UAE. The ICC also said that the schedule for the 50-over showpiece will be announced soon.
The hybrid model will go forward exactly like the Asia Cup 2023 where Pakistan were the original hosts but after going through similar kinds of tensions with the BCCI, Sri Lanka finally emerged as the neutral venue for all matches of Team India. Something similar will be seen during the CT25 as India will play all of their matches at the neutral venue (yet to be announced), which also includes the blockbuster clash with Pakistan.
However, according to Cricbuzz, if the decision tilts towards UAE, Dubai will host the India vs Pakistan encounter. It is believed that the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is waiting for the final clearance from ICC and the PCB. Although there are grounds in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, the ECB officials say that if they are allotted the matches of CT, the India-Pakistan game will be hosted by Dubai, considering the size of the stadium.
The UAE might host 10 of the 15 matches, including three group-stage matches of India and two knockout games. The marquee event is currently tentatively scheduled from February 19 to March 9.
Hybrid model has been finally given a go ahead by the ICC amid the long impasse of Champions Trophy 2025 as both the BCCI and the PCB have agreed to playing at a neutral venue. How would it work exactly? Read it all here! Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
