New Delhi, Dec 5: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed on a hybrid model for next year’s Champions Trophy, permitting India to hold its share of matches in Dubai while also agreeing “in principle” to a similar framework for multi-lateral events through 2027.
A senior ICC official indicated that this decision was largely settled during an informal meeting between the organization’s new President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, including representatives from Pakistan, at their headquarters in Dubai on Thursday.
“All parties have reached an agreement that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be hosted in the UAE and Pakistan, with India playing its matches in Dubai. This arrangement is beneficial for all stakeholders,” the ICC official informed PTI.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February-March next year.
Pakistan, which previously threatened to boycott and then accepted the hybrid model during last week’s ICC meeting, had requested a reciprocal arrangement until 2031. Nevertheless, the ICC has consented to a hybrid model for all events through 2027.
During this timeframe, India is set to host the women’s ODI World Cup in October of this year and co-host the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.
Given these hosting arrangements, Pakistan would not have been required to travel to India even if a hybrid model was not implemented, as they could have played their matches in Sri Lanka during the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.
“During the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan will compete in Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request for compensation related to the Champions Trophy hybrid model is still under review,” the source noted.
As part of this agreement, the Indian women’s team may need to travel to a neutral venue to face Pakistan in their league match, depending on the finalized schedule.
“The priority is to ensure that cricket thrives, which is paramount, while maintaining respect for all parties. We will pursue the best interests of cricket, ensuring that whatever formula is chosen is equitable,” stated PCB head Mohsin Naqvi after the recent ICC meeting.
This latest development paves the way for the long-awaited Champions Trophy schedule, which fans and broadcasters, including Star Sports, have been eagerly anticipating.
Under the agreement between the ICC and the broadcaster, the governing body was supposed to provide the tournament schedule at least 90 days in advance, a deadline that has already been missed.
Representatives from the channel were in Dubai to discuss the Hybrid Model’s operational details and potential scheduling with Shah; however, that meeting has been rescheduled to Saturday, according to sources.
The PCB had previously expressed its desire for a larger share of the annual revenue cycle to accommodate India’s request for a hybrid model, but details on this discussion remain unclear.
India has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which resulted in over 150 casualties. Their last bilateral series took place in 2012.
The ongoing refusal to travel has been attributed to security concerns, with the ICC reiterating that it does not expect any member boards to disregard government travel advisories.
