The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a significant step towards resolving the long-standing India-Pakistan stalemate by approving a hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy scheduled for 2025.
This breakthrough follows a proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put forth on December 2, which introduced an innovative approach dubbed the ‘fusion formula‘.
Under this new arrangement, India, as they wanted, would be playing their matches at a neutral venue during the Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy. In return, Pakistan will also compete at neutral venues during future ICC events that are set to be hosted in India.
According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, this hybrid model has received approval for the entire ICC event cycle spanning from 2024 to 2027.
“The ICC have finally reached a breakthrough in the 2025 Champions Trophy impasse, with a hybrid model agreed upon that will see India’s matches in the eight-team event taking place at a neutral venue,” the report stated.
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“In return, Pakistan’s matches with India in ICC events hosted by India will also take place at a neutral venue.
“ESPNcricinfo has seen a resolution with details of the agreement, and which is expected to undergo an ICC board vote, in which during the 2024-2027 event cycle, all matches involving India in an event hosted in Pakistan will be played at a neutral venue, and in return, all matches involving Pakistan in an event hosted by India will be played at a neutral venue.”
Pakistan will not be travelling to India for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka.
It’s important to note that this hybrid model is also applicable to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, the first tournament of the next event cycle, which has now been awarded to Pakistan.
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