The International Cricket Council (ICC) has postponed a crucial meeting concerning the Champions Trophy 2025, originally scheduled for today (Saturday). Sources attribute the delay to the lack of response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding demands made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in an ongoing venue dispute.
A day prior, Pakistan and India reportedly made progress on the issue, agreeing to play matches at neutral venues for ICC tournaments hosted by either country. Under this arrangement, India’s matches during the Champions Trophy will be held in Dubai, while Pakistan’s games in the India-hosted T20 World Cup will also take place at neutral venues.
This agreement is expected to apply to all ICC events until 2027. During this period, India is set to host the Women’s ODI World Cup in October 2024 and the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 (alongside Sri Lanka). Pakistan had insisted on a reciprocal hybrid arrangement for these tournaments in India.
The Champions Trophy is set to begin in February 2025, with Pakistan as the host. However, India’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan has necessitated a hybrid model, delaying the announcement of the tournament’s schedule. Sources indicate that unresolved logistical issues, along with broadcasters’ feedback, are causing further delays.
Pakistan stands to earn $6 million from hosting rights, excluding additional revenue from ticket sales and hospitality, but must allocate $1.2–$1.3 million for tournament insurance. Meanwhile, India, which receives 38% of ICC’s annual revenue share, enjoys a financial advantage with earnings of $90–$95 million annually.
India has proposed hosting not only its group-stage matches but also the semifinals and final at neutral venues, with Dubai being a suggested location for the much-anticipated Pakistan-India match. The PCB, however, insists that all Indian matches be held at neutral venues if India refuses to travel to Pakistan. The PCB has also warned that Pakistan will adopt a similar stance for ICC events hosted in India.
Stakeholders, including the ICC, are discussing unresolved logistical matters before finalizing the schedule. Sources suggest the ICC meeting will be convened only after these issues are settled at the executive level. Indian media reports claim progress in discussions, with the Indian cricket board agreeing to Pakistan’s demand for neutral venues, though no formal agreement has been signed yet.
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, 2025. However, continued delays in finalizing the schedule have raised concerns among stakeholders.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
