The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to adopt a hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with India playing its matches at neutral venues. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) agreed to host Pakistan’s matches in future ICC events at new neutral venues.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9. A total of eight teams will be divided into two groups of four each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals of the ODI tournament. Pakistan enters the tournament as the defending champions.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to Be Played in Hybrid Model; India to Play at Neutral Venue
On Tuesday, December 19, ESPNCricinfo reported that Pakistan will host India’s matches in the Champions Trophy at neutral venues under a hybrid model. Similarly, Pakistan’s matches in ICC tournaments hosted by India will also take place at neutral venues.
“ESPNcricinfo has seen a resolution with details of the agreement, and which is expected to undergo an ICC board vote, in which during the 2024-2027 event cycle, all matches involving India in an event hosted in Pakistan will be played at a neutral venue, and in return all matches involving Pakistan in an event hosted by India will be played at a neutral venue. This agreement applies to the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka,” the report read.
ICC Approves Triangular T20I for India, Pakistan, and Another Nation
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will also follow a hybrid model. The hybrid model may extend to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next ICC cycle, which has been awarded to Pakistan. Hosts will propose neutral venues for the tournament.
The ICC has no objection to organizing a triangular T20I tournament involving India, Pakistan, and another Asian Full Member nation (or an Associate nation to make it a quadrangular), at a neutral venue. This was proposed as compensation for Pakistan losing the opportunity to host India’s matches.
India’s Last Visit to Pakistan Was for the 2008 Asia Cup
The hybrid model was previously used in the 2023 Asia Cup when India played their matches in Sri Lanka while Pakistan hosted the tournament. India last visited Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup, and their most recent bilateral series was in India during 2012-13.
The last Champions Trophy was held in 2017 in England, where Pakistan defeated India in the final to win their first title. The most recent encounter between India and Pakistan was in the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, where the Men in Blue won by six runs.
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