Will ICC strip off BCCI from hosting Champions Trophy 2021?

The most famous 50-over tournament after the World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy might undergo some significant changes. The ICC is planning to shift the competition to a 20-over format from 50 overs.

However, if this happens then, the next edition which is to be hosted by India could be scrapped.

The BCCI has opposed the proposal of the ICC and some of the other cricketing boards. The ICC and other boards have proposed the idea of the transforming the 50-over format into 20 overs format to fill up the ICC’s projected losses in the 2019 financial year.

But the BCCI wants that the format should remain as it is. The reason behind BCCI’s resistance is that the Champions Trophy was former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s vision. A change in the format would finish the essence of the tournament.

A source close to BCCI said:

“The format cannot and will not change. The Champions Trophy was introduced as part of the vision of our former president Jagmohan Dalmiya, and it’ll be his fifth anniversary when the tournament is hosted by India. This (proposed) move has been brought to the notice of the (BCCI) members and should the ICC persist; there’ll be strong opposition from India.” 

Moreover, the ICC is even considering shifting the tournament outside India in an attempt to avoid any tax exemptions by the Indian government.

The ICC in a press release said:

“The Board expressed their concern around the absence of a tax exemption from the Indian Government for ICC events held in India despite ongoing efforts from both the ICC and BCCI to secure the exemption which is standard practice for major sporting events around the world.” 

However, despite ICC consideration to shifting the tournament, the BCCI has sent out a stern warning to the cricket governing body:

“Should the ICC use tax exemptions from Indian government as an excuse to make up for their own losses and propose the shifting of tournaments, it will lead to a disaster. India will pull out of all agreements.”

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