What is ICC Champions Trophy Hybrid Model?
What is ICC Champions Trophy Hybrid Model? Why it is getting discussed? And what will be its applicability during the global event.
One of the biggest cricket event of 2025 is still in limbo as official announcement of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 still not made despite the event is just months away and ICC ritual of announcing schedule 100 days ago also passed. Event which is initially set to take place in Pakistan will now take place on Hybrid Model.
ICC Champions Trophy Hybrid Model Dispute
Current winner of ICC CT Trophy Pakistan has not hosted an ICC event since the final of Men’s ODI World Cup 1996 which was jointly hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After a long layoff cricket has returned to Pakistan grounds since the terror attack on Sri Lanka team in 2009 and top international teams are recently played on Pakistan Soil.
Pakistan has done some great investment on the renovation of cricket grounds and it was all set to host the event till neighbor India inform ICC that they cannot travel to Pakistan for the global event duet security concerns raised by Indian government and the dispute arises for hosting of the CT 2025 event.
ICC and broadcasters cannot eliminate Pakistan or India from the event as both these so=ides bring lots of eye balls and money in to the game and broadcasters earns a handsome amount of money by covering the cricket matches between the arch rivals.
Pakistan is not ready to back off from their stance of hosting the event whereas India is not willing to come in Pakistan and wants to play their matches outside Pakistan.
What is Champions Trophy Hybrid Model?
International comes up with a solution that Pakistan to remain host of the ICC Champions trophy event 2025 but all matches featuring India will take place in Dubai or any other country including the Semi Finals and The Final if India qualifies through to the knockout phase of the event.
Has this Happen Before in Cricket History?
Yes, it happened in cricket before when a team have forfeited their games by not opting to play in a particular country. During 1996 World Cup Australia and West Indies forfeited their games against Sri Lanka which were scheduled to play in Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
In 2023 Asia Cup which was event taking place under the ACC have opted for Hybrid Model as then India also not willing to travel to Pakistan.
PCB Proposed Fusion Formula
This time Pakistan is firm on their stance and this has increased the negotiation phase of Champions Trophy Hybrid Model. Pakistan has also informed ICC that they will also not travel to India for any ICC event as India is scheduled to host 2 big ICC events till 2027 and India will also have to apply hybrid model Pakistan matches during Women’s ODI World Cup and Men’s T20I World Cup in 2026.
Implications of Champions Trophy Hybrid Model
Increased logistic cost plus the travelling fatigue for the teams that falls in the group of India as they need to travel in and out from Pakistan frequently to play against India at the third country.
However, the Champions Trophy hybrid model still not announced and both boards and ICC still figuring it how to plan the global event which is scheduled to start form February 19the 2025, however the official announcement still not made.
