ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan's Compensation for Hybrid Model Announced

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with the latest update regarding the hosting of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and its events in India and Pakistan during the 2024-2027 rights cycle. The update all but settles the debate regarding the hosting rights of both countries for the next three years.

Last month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, to be held in February-March next year. As a result, the tournament has seen lots of twists and turns even before the start.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Host, Venues, Schedule Cleared after BCCI-PCB Settlement

Pakistan's Compensation for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Hybrid Model Announced

According to the update, the matches involving India and Pakistan hosted by either country at the ICC events will be played at a neutral venue. This rule will apply to the events taking place during 2024-2027.

The decision was confirmed in the ICC board meeting on December 19, 2024. It will apply to the upcoming Champions Trophy which will be hosted by Pakistan. It will also apply to the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, which will be hosted by India.

Pakistan will also play the matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 in a neutral venue according to the new rule. This tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. While UAE seems to be the likeliest venue to host these games, it is not yet confirmed.

Pakistan was also given the hosting rights of the Women's T20 World Cup 2028 by the ICC in this board meeting. The rules regarding neutral venues will be applicable here as well despite the tournament being hosted outside the rights cycle.

CT 2025 schedule is yet to be announced

With India set to play all its Champions Trophy matches outside Pakistan and the PCB agreeing to it, the ICC has settled a big issue. As a result, the final schedule for the tournament is set to be announced soon.

The Champions Trophy 2025 will feature a total of eight teams. The teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each. The participating teams in the tournament are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, and hosts Pakistan.

Pakistan are also the defending champions of the tournament having won it back in 2017 by defeating India in the final. All the teams have confirmed their travel to Pakistan except India.

The BCCI claims that they didn't get the required permission from India's government to send their team to Pakistan.

India's last visit to Pakistan

India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup where they finished runners-up. Since then, the political relations between the two nations have gone from bad to worse due to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The last bilateral series between the two countries was played way back in 2013 when Pakistan traveled to India for two T20Is and three ODIs. Meanwhile, Pakistan's last visit to India was during the ODI World Cup 2023.