Pakistan and India agree on hybrid model for ICC Champions Trophy

After a long period of intense talks, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have reportedly agreed to a hybrid model for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. 

This arrangement has also been approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is expected to announce it officially soon, according to multiple reports from Pakistan and India.

The tournament was originally set to be hosted entirely in Pakistan, but it faced uncertainty after India declared it would not send its team to Pakistan. This led to tense negotiations between the two cricket boards, with the ICC stepping in as a mediator.

According to the reports, India will play all three of its group-stage matches in Dubai, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash. 

The semifinals and final will also be held in the UAE. However, if India does not make it past the group stage, the semifinals and final will be moved to Pakistan, with Lahore and Rawalpindi as the new venues.

Reports also suggest that the PCB asked for financial compensation as part of the agreement, but this request was not granted. Instead, they were promised the rights to host an ICC Women’s tournament after 2027.

It was also decided that Pakistan will not travel to India for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Instead, Pakistan’s group-stage matches will be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The 2025 Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9. However, the full schedule and groupings have not yet been finalized due to the ongoing discussions about the hosting arrangements.