The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed on a groundbreaking decision regarding the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held in a hybrid format. This decision, which will allow India to play its share of matches in Dubai, marks a significant step in resolving ongoing tensions within international cricket. The move was agreed upon in principle during a recent informal meeting between the newly appointed ICC President Jay Shah and the Board of Directors, which included representatives from Pakistan. The meeting took place on Thursday at the ICC headquarters in Dubai.
According to an ICC source, the hybrid arrangement for the 2025 Champions Trophy is now primarily finalized. “It has been agreed in principle by all parties that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with India playing its matches in Dubai. It’s a win-win situation for all stakeholders,” the source told PTI. This means that India will participate in the tournament. Still, their matches will be played in Dubai, allowing them to avoid traveling to Pakistan due to the ongoing political and security issues between the two nations.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is scheduled for February and March next year, but the hybrid model is expected to extend beyond this event. Pakistan had initially expressed concerns about boycotting the tournament unless a reciprocal arrangement was made for its future events. In the previous ICC meeting, Pakistan had demanded that this hybrid arrangement be extended to all ICC events until 2031. While the ICC agreed to a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, they have committed to expanding it until 2027. This decision applies to other ICC tournaments, including the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will jointly host. Pakistan will play its matches in Sri Lanka during the 2026 event as part of the arrangement.
With this decision, the travel issue for Pakistan’s team has been resolved, especially for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, where Pakistan will not be required to visit India. This flexibility ensures that Pakistan can participate without the political challenges that often arise between the two countries.
The hybrid model also impacts the Indian women’s cricket team. If the schedule for their matches against Pakistan necessitates it, the Indian women may have to travel to a neutral venue to play against their Pakistani counterparts. However, the final schedule for the tournament is still pending and has yet to be officially released.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that the key focus should always be on the game itself. “Cricket should win, that’s most important, but with respect for all. We are going to do what’s best for cricket. Whichever formula we go for, it would be on equal terms,” he stated following the last ICC meeting.
The agreement, in principle, is expected to pave the way for the finalization and release of the Champions Trophy schedule, which has been eagerly awaited by fans and broadcasters alike. Star Sports, the broadcaster for the tournament, has been waiting for the official schedule, which, according to the ICC’s contract with the broadcaster, should have been provided at least 90 days in advance. However, that deadline has already been missed, and there has been some delay in finalizing the schedule.
Representatives from Star Sports were in Dubai recently to discuss the logistics of the hybrid model and the tournament’s prospective schedule with Jay Shah. However, according to sources, this meeting was postponed to Saturday.
Earlier, the PCB had also indicated that it would require a larger share of the annual revenue cycle to accommodate the financial implications of the hybrid model, especially to meet India’s demand for a neutral venue. However, there has yet to be an official confirmation on whether this has been discussed or resolved.
India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people. The last bilateral series between the two nations was in 2012, and since then, political tensions and security concerns have prevented any further engagements. India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan has been a significant point of contention, with security issues remaining at the forefront. The ICC has consistently stated that they do not expect any member board to defy government travel advisories, further complicating matters.
The finalization of the hybrid model is a significant moment in international cricket, as it offers a solution that allows both India and Pakistan to participate in major ICC events while sidestepping the challenges posed by political tensions. With the Champions Trophy now set in this hybrid format, the stage is set for an exciting tournament, with the schedule expected to be revealed soon.