The Champions Trophy will be held on schedule and will follow a hybrid hosting model. Pakistan has agreed to co-host the tournament across two countries. India and Pakistan are set to face each other in a group-stage match on March 1 in Dubai. All of India’s matches will be played in the UAE, which will also host two knockout games.
According to PTI, the ICC held a meeting in Dubai to finalize the venues, but an official confirmation is yet to come. The Champions Trophy is slated to begin in February, with the detailed schedule expected to be released by December 7. Pakistan is the defending champion, having defeated India in the 2017 final.
All 15 Members Agree to Hybrid Model
In a meeting chaired by the new ICC Chairman, Jay Shah, all 15 board members approved the hybrid model. Shah arrived at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on December 5, his first official visit as Chairman. Pakistan also participated in the meeting and did not oppose the decision.
Tournament Format: Matches Split Between UAE and Pakistan
The 15-match tournament, featuring 8 teams, will be played from February to March. India will play all three of its group-stage matches in the UAE, which will also host one semifinal and the final. The remaining 10 matches will take place in Pakistan. During the meeting, the PCB presented 4-5 demands, most of which were rejected by the ICC.
PCB’s Demands and ICC’s Response
- Tri-Series with India on Neutral Grounds
The PCB requested a tri-series with India on neutral grounds in the future. However, both the BCCI and ICC declined the proposal. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012, competing only in ICC and ACC tournaments. - Neutral Venues for Pakistan’s Matches in India
The PCB demanded that its matches in India be held on neutral grounds during any tournament hosted there. The BCCI rejected this demand, citing no security concerns for hosting matches in India. - Compensation for Matches Shifted from Pakistan
Five matches were shifted from Pakistan to the UAE, for which the PCB sought compensation. The ICC agreed to this demand.
India vs. Pakistan: A Blockbuster Event
The PCB also requested that Pakistan be placed in a separate group if India insists on playing at neutral venues. This would allow Pakistan to play all its group matches on home soil. However, the ICC, BCCI, and broadcasters opposed this idea, emphasizing that an India-Pakistan match is a marquee event for any tournament. As a result, India and Pakistan are expected to clash on March 1 in Dubai.
PCB’s Financial Demands
The PCB has asked for its share of ICC revenues to increase to 5.75% for the financial year and proposed that all major ICC events in India until 2031 should follow the hybrid model. Initially, Pakistan resisted India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, insisting that India must play in Pakistan. However, following India’s firm stance, the PCB eventually agreed to the hybrid hosting arrangement.