What Is The Hybrid Model For Champions Trophy?

Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com] Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]

The Champions Trophy 2025 is just around the corner but we still have no clarity on who the host nation will be?. In ideal scenario, Pakistan have the hosting rights, but their neighbours, India are reluctant to travel to Pakistan for the mega event.

The Indian government hasn't given the green light for Team India to travel due to the security concerns and this has infuriated Pakistan, who are demanding the Champions Trophy to be hosted without India. However, that is not possible since India generates most of the revenue and without them, the tournament will suffer huge losses.

As a result, the ICC is conducting a meeting with PCB and BCCI, and the objective of the meeting is to convince PCB to accept India's proposal of hybrid model.

What is the hybrid model for Champions Trophy?

As per the hybrid model proposed by India for the Champions Trophy, Team India matches will take place in either UAE or Sri Lanka, and the rest of the tournament matches can take place in Pakistan. However, India won't travel to Pakistan for the mega event.

In case India and Pakistan both reach the finals, the match will not be held in Pakistan, but UAE or the nation which has been chosen for the hybid model.

A similar event occurred during the Asia Cup 2023, when Pakistan were the hosts, but India played its matches in Sri Lanka. Even the India Vs Pakistan match took place in the Island Nation as India decided not to travel to Pakistan.

How often has the champions trophy been hosted in a hybrid model?

Never in the history has the Champions Trophy been hosted in a hybrid model. The tournament was inaugurated in 1998 and since then, the hosting rights has been given to just one country.

Never in the 26 years of the Champions Trophy has their been a hybrid model in place, but the 2025 edition could become the first tournament to implement the scheme.

ICC to have meeting with PCB-BCCI - Scenarios to be discussed

On Friday, the ICC will meet with PCB and BCCI and a couple of scenarios could be discussed. First-ICC will try and convince PCB to accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy as a tournament cannot take place without them.

Secondly, PCB will propose that Champions Trophy takes place in Pakistan, but without India. Also, if PCB do accept the hybrid model, they'll ask ICC to make the  T20 World Cup in 2026 a hybrid model as well, with Pakistan not travelling to India for the mega event.

Also, there is a scenario where PCB will try and boycott all matches against India in multi-national tournaments.