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New Format, Inspiration From Olympic; 3 Changes ICC Must Make For Ailing Champions Trophy 

Abhinav Tyagi

Champions Trophy 2025- (Source:@Johns/X.com)Champions Trophy 2025- (Source:@Johns/X.com)

The much-awaited return of the Champions Trophy after a hiatus of eight years has been marred with several controversies. Firstly, the BCCI has refused to send India to Pakistan for the prestigious fifty-over event because of security reasons and is pushing for a hybrid model.

Meanwhile, the PCB is adamant about hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan. The tussle between two big boards has led to a delay in the release of the schedule, which has become frustrating for the stakeholders and fans, and has led to a dip in the excitement for the Champions Trophy.

Further, the decision to reintroduce the Champions Trophy is also debatable as a few questioned the need for another ICC event for a fifty-over format, despite having the ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, the assumption is that the tournament is ailing, and this article will talk about three changes that need to be brought by ICC for the Champions Trophy. 

1. Make The Tournament Just For Associate Nations

It is worth noting that having two fifty-over ICC tournaments makes no sense as it reduces the impact of the World Cup. Thus, ICC needs to make the tournament accessible to just associate nations. 

Notably, when the tournament was introduced in 1998, only associate nations were allowed to participate in the edition, as it started with the intention of spreading the sport across the. Globe. However, the purpose was finished as soon as ICC allowed full members to participate in it.

2. Make Olympic-like Changes

Similar to the Olympics, the Champions Trophy should feature all teams- Full members and associate nations, but the players should be below 23 years of age, and only three players above 23 should be allowed in the squad. 

A similar rule is followed in the Olympics for football tournaments and might be for cricket when it returns to summer games in 2028. 

3. Increase The Numbers Of Teams

Eight Teams and just 15 matches is too less for a tournament named 'Champions Trophy'. Thus, ICC should consider increasing the number of teams to 16. To increase the popularity of sport, they should introduce two groups of associate and full member nations.

Notably, four teams should qualify from a group of eight teams of full members and similarly a group B full of associate member nations, should also have eight teams and after competing against each other, four teams should advance for super 8.

Thus, the top eight teams would comprise of four full member teams and four associate nations and then they should engage in knock-out games.