Champions Trophy 2025: ICC Announces Hybrid Model Amid BCCI-PCB Dispute

The official schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, initially due by November 11, has been delayed due to a standoff between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, a resolution is expected by December 14, as ICC Chairman Jay Shah is set to hold a virtual meeting with both the BCCI and PCB to confirm the tournament will be played under a hybrid model.

Hybrid Model Confirmed for Champions Trophy

The ICC has reached a compromise with the PCB, who will host the 8-team Champions Trophy, while the Indian team’s matches will be played in Dubai, UAE. This hybrid format is seen as a solution to the security and political concerns surrounding India’s participation in matches held in Pakistan.

The PCB initially set several conditions for accepting this hybrid model. Some were agreed upon by the ICC, but others were rejected. Notably, the PCB will not receive any financial compensation for moving five of the tournament’s 15 games out of Pakistan. Despite this, the agreement ensures that India and Pakistan can both participate, albeit at different venues.

India vs Pakistan: Dubai to Host Key Clash

One of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament, India vs Pakistan, will take place in Dubai, not Pakistan. Given the security concerns in the region, this was a necessary arrangement to ensure the clash could go ahead safely. The same decision is expected for other high-profile India vs Pakistan games, including those in ICC women’s events after 2027, with Dubai likely to be the venue for those fixtures as well.

In addition to this, the PCB has been granted the right to host an ICC Women’s event after 2027. However, like the men’s tournament, it is expected that India’s women’s team will not travel to Pakistan, and their matches may also be held in Dubai.

ICC’s Role in Resolving the Dispute

The deadlock between the BCCI and PCB had cast doubt over the 2025 Champions Trophy, with both boards maintaining their stance on key issues. The PCB pushed for the entire tournament to be hosted in Pakistan, while the BCCI raised security concerns, particularly regarding India’s participation in matches played there.

To resolve the issue, the ICC stepped in to mediate, eventually proposing the hybrid model as a compromise. While not ideal for all parties, it allows the tournament to proceed without further delays and provides a solution that ensures both teams can play in the tournament under different arrangements.

Impact on the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan also affect the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which India is set to host. However, as part of the broader agreement between the two boards, the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match in the 2026 T20 World Cup will be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka, rather than India.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule

Note:

• If India reaches the semifinals or final, those matches will be played in Dubai.
• If India does not qualify, the matches will be played in Karachi, Rawalpindi, or Lahore in Pakistan.