The debate around the 2025 Champions Trophy is still ongoing, and no final decision has been made about its schedule. India has declined to travel to Pakistan due to safety concerns, sparking a major discussion about how the International Cricket Council (ICC) will address the issue.
A ‘hybrid’ model has been proposed, where India could play their games in Dubai, but no official confirmation has been given yet. An ICC meeting planned for December was postponed because of disagreements over the next steps. Reports suggest the delay might result in the Champions Trophy shifting from its usual ODI format to a T20 tournament.
“If the stalemate persists, it is not improbable that certain stakeholders may revive calls to convert the Champions Trophy into a T20 format which is easier and faster to market than the ODIs which are fast losing their relevance,” the report stated.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face financial losses, legal troubles, and risk being isolated internationally if it decides to pull out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to disagreements over how the 50-over tournament, set for February-March next year, should be held.
A senior cricket official, who has experience with ICC event planning, told PTI on Wednesday that it won’t be an easy choice for the PCB to withdraw if the hybrid model isn’t fully approved by both the ICC and BCCI.
“Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but like all other participating nations in the event, it has also signed a mandatory Members’ Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC,” the administrator explained.
“It is only after a member nation signs the MPA for playing in an ICC event that it is eligible to get a share of revenues earned from ICC events. Most importantly when the ICC signed a broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC members are available to play in their events including the Champions Trophy,” he said.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
