Explained: The hybrid model for Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC events, and why the PCB will be happy

The Champions Trophy 2025 deadlock finally ended on Thursday (19 December) after both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to settle for a compromise. It was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday that the Champions Trophy 2025 will go ahead in Pakistan but in a hybrid model which will see India play their matches at a neutral venue.

The Indian cricket team will most likely play its matches in UAE during the Champions Trophy 2025, it was reported by news agency PTI. However, it’s not just the Men in Blue who will be playing their matches at a neutral venue, the same privilege will be extended to the Pakistan cricket team when India host ICC events in the 2024-27 cycle, the global cricketing body stated.

This means India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 and play their matches in neutral venues. In return, Pakistan will not play their ICC event matches in India till 2027. The Pakistan women’s cricket team will not travel to India for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and the Pakistan men’s cricket team will not travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka and Pakistan are expected to play their matches in Sri Lanka, even the one against India.

The ICC has also extended the same formula to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028 which will be hosted in Pakistan. India will play their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 matches at a neutral venue.

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Why PCB will be happy despite India not travelling to Paksitan?

The impasse over Champions Trophy 2025 stemmed from Pakistan’s refusal to accept a hybrid model, something they had followed during the 2023 Asia Cup. PCB made several demands to ICC, including a rise in its share of revenue from ICC. There’s no communication so far on this. But with ICC accepting PCB’s request for a hybrid model during global events in India, it’s highly unlikely that PCB will get any major financial incentive.

However, PCB has definitely managed to save its face by accepting the hybrid model on reciprocal grounds. After sending the Pakistan team to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, it became a question of prestige when the BCCI said it would not send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The Pakistan board was forced to take a tough stance in such a scenario which led to a delay in the schedule announcement.

Now that the whole matter is resolved, we can expect the scheduled to be released soon.