Hybrid Model Champions Trophy gets the green light from the ICC along with an agreement between India and Pakistan.
Hybrid Model is the official decision after the ICC has finally reached a breakthrough in the 2025 Champions Trophy impasse.
India’s matches in the eight-team event will be taking place at a neutral venue. In return, Pakistan’s matches in ICC events hosted by India will also take place at a neutral venue.
According to the agreement, all matches between India and Pakistan in events hosted in Pakistan during the 2024–2027 event cycle will take place at neutral venues, while all matches between India and Pakistan in events hosted by India will also take place at neutral venues. In both cases, every match is interpreted to include elimination rounds like the semifinals and championship match.
The deal will be applicable to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India. The 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting. It starts with the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. With Sri Lanka serving as co-host, the previous event provides a simple answer. But it would result in India and Pakistan being drawn in every match playing in Sri Lanka.
It might also apply to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which has already been given to Pakistan and is the opening competition of the upcoming events cycle.
The tournament host will select the neutral location, which must be authorised by the ICC. Within 24 hours of the resolution being ratified, the PCB must suggest a neutral location for the Champions Trophy. Although Sri Lanka has also been suggested, the UAE has been the front-runner. The tournament will still be hosted entirely by the PCB.
A triangular or quadrangular T20I tournament between India, Pakistan, and another Full Member from Asia (and an Associate Asian country if it’s a quadrangular) is also mentioned in the resolution. Although the ICC has simply stated that it will not object to such an event being organised and that same neutral venue procedures will apply as those in the ICC event format, this is believed to have been one of the items pressed for by the PCB during its negotiations during the impasse.