(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The International Cricket Council has reached an agreement to organize next year's Champions Trophy using a hybrid model. This will allow India to play its matches in Dubai, while the council has also agreed in principle to a similar arrangement for other multilateral events until 2027. According to an ICC source, the decision was finalized during an informal meeting between the council's new President, Jay Shah, and the Board of Directors, including Pakistan, at the ICC's headquarters in Dubai on Thursday. The ICC has agreed that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with India playing its matches in Dubai. This arrangement is seen as beneficial for all stakeholders. Additionally, India will be hosting the women's ODI World Cup in 2023 and the men's T20 World Cup in 2026 jointly with Sri Lanka during this period.
The Pakistani cricket team will play their matches in Sri Lanka during the 2026 men's T20 World Cup. The compensation requested by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Champions Trophy hybrid model is still being discussed. If the schedule requires it, the Indian women's team will have to travel to a neutral venue to play their league match against Pakistan. The most important thing is that cricket prevails, with respect for all. The Pakistan Cricket Board head stated that whatever formula they go with will be on equal terms. This latest development will pave the way for the release of the long-awaited Champions Trophy schedule.
The channel's officials were in Dubai to discuss the logistics and potential timeline of the 'Hybrid Model' with Shah. However, that meeting has been postponed to Saturday, according to reports. The PCB had previously expressed a desire for a larger portion of the annual revenue to accommodate the Indian request for a hybrid model, but it is unclear whether this was addressed. India has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left over 150 people dead. Their most recent direct engagement was in 2012. Their latest decision to not travel has been attributed to safety worries, and the ICC has declared multiple times that it does not anticipate any member organization to disregard government travel guidelines.
