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The International Cricket Council on December 19, Thursday, announced that India and Pakistan will play their matches in ICC tournaments at neutral venues till 2028. The deal was announced by the ICC during the confirmation of hybrid model for Champions Trophy 2025.
ICC announced that India will be playing their matches for the Champions Trophy 2025 on a neutral venue – likely UAE – and in return, Pakistan do not need to travel to India to play any world tournaments till 2028 – including the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.
While the Champions Trophy stand-off after India’s refusal to travel across the border ended, the new agreement has given rise to fresh concerns.
The ICC released a statement confirming that “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue,” as reported by India Today last week. This will mean that Pakistan will not travel to India for their matches during the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026.
The tournament, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, faced uncertainty due to India’s refusal to travel to the host nation. The ICC reiterated in its statement: “This will apply to the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (hosted by Pakistan), set to be played in February and March 2025, as well as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted by India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India and Sri Lanka).”
The statement also announced that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been awarded the hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.
ICC Statement Key Pointers
- Champions Trophy will be played in Pakistan, India matches at neutral venue
- The 50-over tournament will be played in February-March in 2025
- The hybrid model rule will apply for all ICC tournaments hosted by India and Pakistan in 2024-27 cycle
- Pakistan will not travel to India for Women’s World Cup in 2025 and T20 World Cup in 2026
- Pakistan have been awarded the hosting rights for Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028
- As India Today reported, no compensation for Pakistan for losing a part of Champions Trophy hosting rights
- The schedule for ICC Champions Trophy will be confirmed soon
What Does This Mean for the Rest?
While India and Pakistan play at the comfort of their neutral venues in the ICC tournaments, the major problems will be faced by the rest of the cricketing nations who would have to travel more than usual, if they are pitted against India and Pakistan.
Take the 2023 Asia Cup for example. the Asian Cricket Council tournament was co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka as India refused travel to Pakistan for the tournament. India were stationed in Sri Lanka with the other teams forced to travel to and fro between countries – playing in drastically different conditions.
For example, Bangladesh started their tournament in Pallekele on Ausgust 31, flew out to Lahore to play Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the travelled back to Sri Lanka to play their final two matches – in a space of two weeks.
The fate was more or less same for the other countries depending on how deep they went into the tournament.
Former BCB operations chairman had spoken to the media where he had sounded helpless about the issue.
“After playing our first match in Kandy, we have to go to Lahore for the second. There is nothing to do, it was ACC’s decision. To make the journey a bit more comfortable, the ACC will provide us with a chartered plane. All the teams who have matches in both countries will get the same,” Jalal had said during the tournament.
“There is always a little discomfort when you have to travel so much. We all know that you have to go to the airport two hours before a flight and have to carry your luggage too. Then there is the issue of jet lag. The distance between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is very long. We have nothing we can do, everyone will playing like this and we have to be okay with ACC’s decision,” he had further added.
Now the question rises, is that fair for the other boards? Forget Asia Cup – a tournament of only 6 teams, the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to have 20 teams in total, out of which upto 12 different teams might end up playing India and Pakistan, in potentially two different countries.
ICC Needs to Do Better
India Today reported that all major stakeholder boards in international cricket were consulted when the ICC discussed the possibility of adopting a hybrid model. While the boards may not raise concerns regarding the Champions Trophy 2025, logistical challenges could pose significant issues for teams in larger tournaments in the future.
If the hybrid model becomes more prevalent due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, the ICC would do well to establish a long-term solution to these challenges. Engaging with member boards before awarding hosting rights and finalising schedules well in advance could help mitigate potential disruptions, ensuring players, broadcasters, and fans face fewer inconveniences.
Broadcasters, who are instrumental in bolstering the financial health of the sport, would also welcome such a proactive approach. It would spare them the uncertainty of waiting until the last minute to confirm venues and schedules.
The Champions Trophy, expected to take place between February and March, still does not have official venues. Neither the boards nor the fans know where they will need to travel to watch their favourite cricketers in action.
The ICC must recognise that its tournaments are global. For cricket to truly grow as a worldwide sport, these events must prioritise fan experience and seamless organisation. Otherwise, the aspiration of making cricket a genuinely global sport will remain a distant dream.
With cricket set to feature in the 2028 Olympics, fostering a better global image for the sport has never been more crucial.
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